Binder1 aug 7, 2014

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Thursday, August 7, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 170

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

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Nyako’s deputy asks court to order his swearing in as gov Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

F

ormer Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Mr. James Ngilari, whose purported resignation during the impeachment

of his principal, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, caused a stir, yesterday asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, to order that he should be sworn in as the substantive governor of the state on grounds that

he did not resign from office.

Ngilari through his counsel, Festus Keyamo, in court processes filed before the court, sought for an order to order the removal of the Acting

Governor, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri, from office and to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting any governorship bye-election in the state.

Joined as defendants in

the case are the House of Assembly Speaker, Ahmadu Umaru, the House of Assembly; Fintiri; Nyako and INEC. The plaintiff wants a declaration that by the combined provisions of

section 306 (1), (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution, he did not resign his office by addressing a letter of resignation dated 15th July, 2014 to the speaker, who is the first defendant.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Nurse dies of Ebola

lFive more persons test positive to EVD lSouth-West govs meet on way out lWHO puts death toll at 932 lFatality spreads to Saudi Arabia Our Reporters

T

he Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has claimed its first victim in Nigeria with the death of a nurse in Lagos.

The nurse who died on Tuesday and whose identity was not disclosed, according to Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, was one of the medical personnel that treated Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American official of the Economic

Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who fell ill on arrival in Lagos last month.

Sawyer, who was rushed to First Foundations Hospital, Lagos, died on July 25, from the disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has put the death toll from the outbreak of EVD at 932 while a Saudi, who just returned to his country after a visit to Senegal, one of the infected countries, has died.

Chukwu, at a news conference yesterday in Abu-

ja, said seven new cases had also been confirmed.

Earlier, authorities had confirmed that one of the doctors that attended to the late Sawyer had test positive to EVD. He confirmed five new

cases of Ebola in Lagos and a second death from the virus, bringing the total number of infections in the country to seven The minister said: “Yesterday, 5th August, 2014, the first known Nigerian

to die of the EVD was recorded and this was one of the nurses that attended to the Liberian. The other five cases are currently being treated at the isolation ward in Lagos.”

According to him, all

the Nigerians diagnosed the Ebola virus were primary contacts of the index case, the late Sawyer.

“The 24/7 emergency operations centre will be fully functional tomorCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Jega: Osun poll will be best ever

lAPC urges INEC to circulate numbers of unclaimed PVCs lNine parties adopt Omisore lI lose nothing leaving PDP, says Oyinlola lPDP chides APC over parallel govt remarks Our Reporters

I

ndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, yesterday promised to make the conduct of Saturday’s governorship election the best among all others conducted by the commission.

PAN donates N125m to terrorism victims }6

Jega, at an election stakeholders’ forum in Osogbo, assured Nigerians that the process of the exercise would be second to none in terms of transparency, quality and credibility.

He urged all the stakeCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Lagos

Storms

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L-R: United States President Barack Obama; President Goodluck Jonathan and U.S. First Lady, Michelle Obama, during a U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit dinner at the White House, Washington DC…on Tuesday

Cost of refining in Nigeria goes up by $2m daily }5

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NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Nyako’s deputy asks court to order his swearing in as governor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

He also wants the court to declare that his purported resignation did not take effect when the purported letter of resignation was received by the speaker on July 15.

He is also asking the court to hold that the declaration of the office of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, then occupied by him, vacant on July 15, vide the Votes and Proceedings of the Assembly of the same day is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

Other reliefs being sought by Ngilari are: “A declaration that by the sequence of the legislative business of the second defendant as contained in the transcript of the Votes and Proceedings of the Adamawa State House of Assembly (second defendant) of Tuesday, July 15th, 2014, the fifth defendant (Murtala Nyako) was still the Governor of Adamawa State at the time the first and second defendants received, accepted and acted upon the purported letter of resignation of the plaintiff (Bala James Ngilari) to declare his seat vacant.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

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sworn in as governor of Adamawa State.

“A declaration that by the combined provisions of section 191(1) and 306 (1), (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution, the swearing-in of the third defendant (Fintiri) as acting governor of Adamawa State on 15th of July, 2014 is illegal and unconstitutional.

“A declaration that by the provision of section 191(1) of the 1999 Constitution the sixth defendant (INEC) cannot conduct any election to fill the office of

the governor of Adamawa State after the impeachment of Murtala Nyako, as the deputy governor did not resign from that office as strictly stipulated by section 306 (1), (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

He, therefore, prays for an order of injunction restraining INEC whether by itself, its agents, servants, privies, officers or otherwise howsoever, from conducting a bye-election to fill the office of the governor of Adamawa State as a consequence of the

impeachment of Nyako and the purported/unconstitutional resignation of Ngilari as deputy governor.

He also seeks an order of the court removing Umaru as the acting governor of Adamawa State forthwith.

The plaintiff also wants an order of the court directing the Chief Judge of Adamawa State (or Acting Chief Judge, as the case may be) or the President of the Customary Court of Appeal to swear him in as the substantive governor.

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

L-R: Regional Expansion Manager, Africa, Micro Ensure, Mr. Kiereini Kirika; Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Maurice Newa; Group Managing Director, Cornerstone Insurance, Mr. Ganiyu Musa and Vice President, Segment Marketing, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Dinesh Balsingh, during the launching of Airtel Insurance in Lagos…yesterday

PHOTO: Suleiman HUSAINI

APC urges INEC to circulate numbers of unclaimed PVCs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

29oC 21oC Rain Showers

KANO

“A declaration that by the combined provisions of section 306 (1), (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, the plaintiff did not resign from office as deputy governor of Adamawa State as strictly stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.

“A declaration that by virtue of section 191(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, after the impeachment of Murtala Nyako as governor of Adamawa State, the plaintiff ought to be

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

holders not to exercise fear as the commission was fully prepared for a hitch-free poll, adding that there would not be room for fraud, malpractices, manipulations or other anti-democratic acts.

He said: “Our goal in Osun State election is to make it the best ever conducted in Nigeria. The one which outcome will be difficult to dispute and the one which winner will be the one the people want.

“We have put machinery in place to make the election a success. One of such is that, we have put in place colouring coded of the ballot papers and what will be used in one local government area will be quite different from another.

“What we have done in Ekiti State will be different from Osun State. The materials to be used in Osun election are quality ones and the ballot papers

have been serially numbered to guide against fraud and manipulation.”

Also speaking at the occasion, the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, urged the electorate to feel free to cast their votes on Saturday for the candidate of their choice.

He told the gathering that the police were fully ready to contain any breach of the peace.

“Anybody that wants to undermine or cause mischief before, during and after the election shall be met force with force and we have gotten enough men to monitor the election in the state, no hiding place for thugs and their sponsors on Saturday,” he said.

As part of security measures to ensure a violence-free poll, the police have also deployed helicopters in Osun State to provide aerial surveillance operations before, during and after the elec-

tion.

Also, anti-bomb squad and other specialised and tactical units have arrived in the state to support the ongoing security operations.

According to a statement yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), the deployment of the helicopters is part of the “extensive security operations” in the state, which also include “deployment of plain cloth detectives; all geared towards ensuring adequate security for the election.

However, ahead of the election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded that INEC should circulate the Voters Identification Numbers (VINs) of all unclaimed Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the state to all political parties.

The party also asked INEC to publicly declare

that anyone in possession of any PVC with any of such numbers is an impostor who must be arrested if he or she tries to use it.

The APC, in a communiqué at the end of an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) in Osogbo yesterday, said in addition to circulating the VINs of the unclaimed PVCs, INEC must equally publicly declare invalid for the purpose of the election all the PVCs with the circulated VINs. It said the circulation of the VINs of the unclaimed PVCs and the INEC’s declaration as invalid of all PVCs bearing the VINs for the Saturday election were the irreducible minimal condition for the governorship election to be free, fair, credible and transparent.

Also yesterday, the bid by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

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NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Jonathan seeks stiffer sanctions against Boko Haram, others lTerrorist group takes over Gwoza Anule Emmanuel and Ahmed Miringa

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has called on the international community to impose a

regime of stiffer sanctions against Boko Haram, whose activities have led to the death of over 15,000 people in Nigeria.

In addition, he urged for sanctions against

countries that sponsor terrorism in the world.

A statement yesterday by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted Jonathan as advocating stiffer penalties for

terrorism in his presentation at the ongoing USAfrican Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC. He said: “We call for an effective international sanctions regime that

Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (left) and Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, exchanging the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of N500m of the bank’s Investment on Small and Medium Entrepreneur in Kaduna State…yesterday

I lose nothing leaving PDP, says Oyinlola CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

to win the election got a boost as nine out of the 20 political parties contesting the governorship poll adopted him as their candidate.

The parties are: the Accord Party (AP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), the Action Alliance (AC), the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the Kowa Party (KP) and the Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD).

The Director-General Iyiola Omisore Campaign Organisation, Mr. Lere Oyewumi, who presented the state chairmen of the parties at a ceremony in Osogbo, said with their adoption of the PDP’s candidate, Omisore was sure of victory on Saturday.

Spokesman of the parties and Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Mr. Popoola Olatunji, hinged their support of Omisore on the failure of the APC candidate and the incumbent Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, to deliver on his electoral promises.

According to him, the parties have confidence that the state will fare better under a PDP adminis-

tration.

From Abuja, the presidency and former VicePresident, Atiku Abubakar urged voters in Osun to vote wisely by electing Omisore and Aregbesola respectively.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, appealed to the electorate to end maladministration, increasing poverty and decaying infrastructure in the state by voting for Omisore.

In an open letter to the people of Osun State given to reporters yesterday, Alkali decried the level of misery in the state while the governor was busy paying more attention to the needs of capricious godfathers that reside outside the state.

On his part, Atiku, an APC chieftain, told a delegation from Osun State who visited him in Abuja that the people should reward hard work and commitment to the progress of the state by voting for Aregbesola on Saturday.

He said he had a stake in the state as by marriage, he is from Osun State. Atiku’s first wife, Titi, hails from Ilesa in Osun State.

Meanwhile, a former PDP National Secretary and now an APC stalwart, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has said he will

not miss anything leaving PDP on whose platform he rule Osun State for over seven years.

Oyinlola who defected to APC on Tuesday, told reporters in Osogbo that he had to leave PDP because it was obvious he was not wanted any more in the party.

He accused President Goodluck Jonathan of using his close relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo against him and also fingered a former National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as one of those behind his travail in the party.

Asked how he would be able to cope with his once estranged friends in the APC, including former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, Oyinlola said there were no permanent friends or enemies in politics but permanent interest.

According to him, his main interest now is the well-being of his people and that APC seems the only opposition party that is serious enough to take over power from the PDP. “I have gone beyond personal interest in politics and am not even eyeing senatorial seat again; but if there are positions for me to serve at the Federal level, no problem,” he added.

In another develop-

ment, the PDP yesterday chided APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, over his statement at the party’s grand rally in Osogbo on Tuesday that the party will form a parallel government should PDP rig the 2015 presidential election.

The ruling party described the statement as a confirmation of APC’s plot to scuttle the democracy.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, at a press conference in Abuja, demanded to know how APC would differentiate between electoral loss and election rigging.

He said the party was aware that the people had rejected APC, adding that electoral loss is subjective.

“Nigerians need to be reminded that the APC’s understanding of ‘rigging’ is where they lose election. Whenever they win as was the case in Edo, it is free and fair.

“It is a globally acknowledged fact that shadow or parallel governments have no place in a presidential system.

Therefore, the threat to institute such is nothing short of implementing the agenda to destabilise and collapse the democratic system and institute a reign of anarchy,” Metuh added

would hold accountable any country, institution and individual that finances terrorism in any part of the world. This inaugural Africa-US Summit must also call for effective action and implementation of all existing international protocols on this critical issue.

“Because terrorism, piracy and transnational organised crimes are global in scope, greater regional and international collaboration is required to combat them. We must act in concert.”

Jonathan said some of the security problems facing Nigeria and other African countries were transnational in scope and could not therefore be solved by any country acting alone.

“Several African countries, including Nigeria, are now challenged by terrorism and violent extremism. For several countries in the continent, terrorism has become a real threat to social progress, peace and security.

“The violent and criminal activities of Boko Haram in my country have captured the world’s attention. This has been especially so since the terrorist group abducted some girls from their school dormitory in the North-Eastern Nigeria in April.

“Nigeria may be the epicentre of Boko Haram terrorist activities at the moment, but its affiliation with international terrorist networks, dramatically increases its capacity and reach beyond Nigeria’s borders.

“Nigeria is doing everything possible to combat Boko Haram and violent extremism. While we continue to enhance our intelligence and military capacities, we are, at the same time, working on political and socio-economic solutions. We are also building partnerships, both at the regional and international levels, to combat the threat posed by terrorism in our sub-region.

“In this enterprise, we are pleased to acknowledge the supportive role of the United States. The assistance that we continue to receive from the United States and our other international partners is proof indeed that partnership can multiply our strengths in addressing common challenges,” the president added.

Jonathan had conveyed the same message at a bilateral meeting with the United States Vice-President Joe Biden on Tuesday, saying that Nigeria, the United States and the global community must work with greater synergy and unity of purpose to overcome Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

At the meeting which took place in the White

House, Biden described Nigeria as an “extremely important” ally of the US. He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with Nigeria to overcome the Boko Haram insurgency, adding that his country is also willing to give Nigeria any assistance it may require to contain the more recent threat of Ebola.

The president and Biden also discussed further joint cooperation to boost trade and investments, agricultural development and access to electricity in Nigeria.

Notwithstanding the campaign for stiffer sanction against the group, Boko Haram attacked Gwoza, Borno State and sacked the villagers who fled to the mountains.

A resident who asked not to be named, told New Telegraph that the Boko Haram terrorists who in came a Toyota Hilux vehicle and armoured tanks first attacked troops stationed in the town before they turned their guns on the residents.

“The insurgents started shooting sporadically and setting houses, shops and government building ablaze. The situation forced us to flee the town and run to top hills and mountains.

“They also tried to attack the policemen at the Gwoza Divisional Police Headquarters by throwing explosives at them and attacking with other weapons but I don’t have the details whether the police station was destroyed or not,” the resident stated.

Gwoza villages have been under siege by the Boko Haram terrorists, who also blew off the bridge linking GwozaMaiduguri and Gwoza Madagali, a situation which prompted the late Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrisa Tima, to called on the Federal Government to do something before he was killed by the terrorists on his way to Gombe.

Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gideon Jibrin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), for confirmation did not yield any result as he did not pick calls to him mobile phone.

Corrigendum The number of schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok, Borno State in April by Boko Haram is over 200 and not over 2,000 as contained in the story on page 4 of yesterday’s edition, with the headline: Chibok girls: Jonathan okays negotiations with Boko Haram. It was the printer’s devil at work.

The error is regretted.

–Editor

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Cost of refining in Nigeria goes up by $2m daily

lShell boosts oil production by 40, 000 barrels from Bonga North-West Adeola Yusuf

T

he cost of refining petroleum products in Nigeria has gone up by N320 million ($2,007,840 million) daily, New Telegraph gathered yesterday.

The rise in the cost arose from the transportation of 267, 000 barrels of crude to refineries in Port Harcourt

and Warri by vessels as a result of the vandalism of the pipeline network, through which the crude could have been delivered to the refineries.

The increase in the cost of refining came hours after Royal Dutch Shell announced that it has boosted Nigeria’s oil production by 40, 000 barrels per day with the production of its

first crude from the Bonga North-West deep-water development offshore Nigeria.

According to Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, $7.52 per barrel is spent to transport the crude oil by ships due to total failure of pipelines.

The refineries have a combined installed capac-

ity of 445,000 bpd but only perform at 60 per cent, which is 267, 000 barrels per day, according to official figures released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

New Telegraph had earlier exclusively reported that the pipeline crude transport contracts between the Pipeline and Products Marketing Com-

L-R: Member, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Barnabas Gemade; Chairman, Senator Gbenga Obadara and Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, during a visit by the committee to the Ughelli Power Plant, Delta State.

pany (PPMC) and these refineries had collapsed and Alison-Madueke said yesterday at the ongoing Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) conference that crude transportation to three state-run refineries were being done by ship in a bid to bypass damaged pipelines.

“Due to theft-related vandalism, crude oil supply to our refineries remains constrained, thus affecting uptime and volume.

“In order to mitigate this anomaly, the option of crude transportation by marine vessel has been deployed thereby increasing the operating cost of refining by an additional sum of $7.52 per barrel,” Alison-Madueke said in a speech to the conference obtained yesterday.

She did not give the current cost of refining crude at the refineries.

The NNPC had announced earlier that it had resorted to shipping crude oil to its three refineries, the 125,000 b/d Warri refinery and two in Port Harcourt with a combined nameplate capacity of 210,000 b/d, because of frequent hacking into pipelines that

transport crude from Chevron, Shell and Eni operated fields.

The refineries have been operating intermittently because of the resulting disruption to crude supply.

Alison-Madueke said pipeline vandalism not only affected the refineries but also crude production and exports.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SPDC), said in a statement described the production of 40, 000 barrels per day from its first crude from the Bonga North-West deep-water development, as good news for Nigeria.

This according to the oil major, “is a new source of oil revenue and strengthens the country’s deep-water expertise.”

The Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) has been upgraded to handle the additional oil flow from Bonga North West which, at peak production, is expected to contribute 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, helping to maintain the facility’s overall output.

Lagos nurse, who treated Liberian, dies of Ebola virus CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

row. It will be headed by Dr Faisal Shuaibu as the incident manager. He will later today lead a six-man inter-agency team drawn from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to Lagos to complete the setting up of the centre. They will be joined by the other personnel from Lagos state government and the federal hospitals in the Lagos area as well as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

“We are making arrangements to procure isolation tents to quicken the pace of providing isolation wards in all states of the federation and the federal capital territory.

“We are also setting up a special team to provide counselling and psychosocial support to patients, identified contacts and their families,” the minister added.

Chukwu also said Nigerian had reached out to the States health authorities for access to the experimental drug used to treat two American volunteer doctors who were infected with the disease while treating Ebola patients in Liberia.

He told reporters that the Federal Government was in consultation with the US Centre for Disease

Control, CDC, to acquire the “secret serum” used in the treatment of American doctors, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol.

The experimental “secret Serum” is said to have had an almost immediate effect on the doctors and their health improved considerably.

“We are in touch with the Americans. Yesterday, I spoke on telephone with the Director of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Tom Freiden. We spoke at length, and we have exchanged emails. Yesterday, I inaugurated the Treatment Research Group and one of its terms of reference is to collaborate with similar working groups across the world. Now that they have started work, they will get in touch with the Americans and understand what they are doing and whether we have access to similar opportunity,” he stated.

Chukwu, who along with the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, briefed State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, explained that the Federal Government considered the matter a national emergency.

He expressed the hope that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) will

soon call off its industrial action to join in the emergency service since government had met almost all their demands.

As part of strategies to rise to the national emergency, Chukwu said a website, www.ebolaalert.org, had been designed to offer information on the virus.

Also, a Twitter handle, @ebolaalert, has been created.

Maku said the FEC meeting was devoted to the measures being taken by government to deal with the outbreak of the virus.

He recalled that the council had set up a committee about two weeks to sensitise citizens to avoid unhealthy practices.

South-West governors yesterday also put aside their political differences to close ranks to fight the EVD outbreak.

They met in Lagos to proffer solutions to the endemic and possible ways to curtail the spread of the diseases in the country.

They called for stiffer measures on proper management and regulation of the nation’s porous border, urging the Federal Government to strengthen the nation’s borders, if it is sincere about tackling the deadly diseases which is rampaging African countries.

At the emergency meet-

ing yesterday were Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Senator Ibikunle Amosun, (Ogun), Dr Kayode (Ekiti) and Dr Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo State) as well as the Deputy Governor Oyo State, Mr. Moses Adeyemo.

They also appealed to the striking doctors to sheath their swords and call-off the strike on humanitarian ground, even as they agreed to collaborate with the Federal Government on measures to eradicate and curtail EVD. Briefing journalists after the meeting, held behind the closed-door at the Ikeja State House, Fashola said the collaboration of the governors was crucial to tackle the health challenges currently confronting the nation.

However, despite being on a five-week strike, the NMA has set up a committee to combat the spread of the virus.

Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the NMA, Dr. Tope Ojo, said yesterday at a news conference in Lagos that a team of doctors from the state has volunteered to help patients at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.

“Strike or no strike, we must respond to emergencies. Our doctors are at Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where isolated contacts

are being monitored.

There are seven committees working on the management of the disease at the centre in Lagos and our members are part of the various committees,” he said.

The Lagos State Government has also announced that it will offer life insurance cover for volunteers who come out to assist in the health emergency arising from the EVD outbreak.

Addressing a news conference in Lagos, the Commissioner for Health in Lagos, Dr. Jide Idris, said those who volunteer to assist in the health emergency would be provided with the safety kits they require to handle infectious disease including life insurance.

He added that secondary contact tracing, that is, close contacts of all persons currently admitted and contacts of the two that have died, has commenced.

In Saudi Arabia officials said a man who was being tested for the Ebola virus had died.

The 40-year-old returned on Sunday from Sierra Leone, where at least 286 people have died from Ebola, and was then hospitalised in Jeddah after showing symptoms of the viral hemorrhagic fever.

According to WHO, there have now been at least 1,711 cases of Ebola this year while 932 have died from the disease.

The global health organisation at the ongoing two-day emergency meeting on the Ebola epidemic is considering whether to declare it an international crisis.

Meanwhile, there was a scare yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos when a sick passenger was prevented from travelling out of the country.

The passenger who was going back to South Africa on board an indigenous airline was prevented from boarding the airplane when it was discovered that he was ill.

The pilot of the aircraft declined to take the passenger on the flight. He was deboarded.

As he was being taken off the flight towards the departure wing of the airport, he defecated and started vomiting which made travellers and other users of the airport to scamper for safety.

The passenger whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of filing the report was left at the spot as people feared going close to him for the fear of contacting Ebola virus.

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PAN donates N125m to terrorism victims AN Nigeria Limited, an Pmanufacturer indigenous leading auto in the coun-

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; Minister of State for Health, Alhaji Khaliru Alhassan and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, during the public hearing on curtailing the spread of Ebola Virus at the National Assembly, Abuja…yesterday PHOTO:ELIJAH OLALUYI

3.56m

The total population of Shenyang, China in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Anule Emmanuel

T

he Federal Government has approved the upgrade of work at the second Niger Bridge.

The decision, government said, is to facilitate an improvement of the economy of the people of Delta, Edo and the Southsouth region in general.

Vice President Namadi Sambo stated this while receiving a delegation of elders from Delta and Edo States led by the Minister for Works, Mike Onolememen, who had come to visit President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation comprised Ebu, Illah, Emu, Inyede and Igbedo, the host and immediate benefiting communities of the Utor River Bridge on the Asaba-Illah-Emu-Ahia-

221,076

The total number of air travel passengers of Osubi airport in 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

1.683m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Azerbaijan in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

FG approves upgrade of second Niger Bridge project Uromi road.

They were on a ‘thank you visit’ to the Federal Government for the successful completion of the project.

Vice President Sambo said that, ‘the President’s approval for the commencement of the work also includes the upgrade of the arteries and connections to the bridge’.

Sambo, therefore, directed the Minister of Works to ascertain the actual areas that need to be dualised. The Vice President pointed out that the completion of the bridge project will likely attract an increased flow

of traffic.

He also directed that designs must be presented for the future dualisation of the road. He said that the work is scheduled to commence by 2015.

Sambo said that, ‘the Federal Government is also planning to provide railways in all these areas to make for a more effective transportation system.’ He assured the delegation that the transformation programmes of this administration will be faithfully implemented to benefit of Nigerians.

Earlier, the Monarchs of Ebu, Illah,

Emu, Inyede and Igbedo, represented by Andrew Omalu Okoja, expressed their appreciation to the Federal Government for the completion of the Utor River Bridge project, which was abandoned by various previous administrations and eventually resuscitated, approved and funded by this present administration. They expressed further appreciation to the government for the quick response to the recently collapsed Two Cell Box Culvert Bridge between Illah and Ebu on the Asaba-Ebu-Emu-Ahia-Uromi road.

try yesterday demonstrated its leadership qualities and concern for Nigerian citizens when it donated a whopping N125 million to the victims of terrorism in the country.

The donation, according the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi, was in response to the call made by President Goodluck Jonathan, on all corporate bodies to support the Terrorism Victims Support Fund (VSF) initiative launched last week at a dinner in the Presidential Villa.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, dated August 1, 2014, Boyi said the company will provide N25 million worth of cars to the secretariat of the fund, headed by elder

statesman, Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd.), to ease their logistics needs.

PAN will, in addition, provide free tuition, valued at N100 million to 100 qualified family members of the victims that will be nominated by the VSF Foundation for technical acquisition programme in Automotive Repair and Maintenance training aimed at resettling the victims toward a sustainable means of livelihood.

Boyi said the token by PAN Nigeria Limited will go a long way towards achieving the goals of the VSF in providing succour to the victims.

He equally congratulated President Jonathan for the successful launch of the fund, describing it as a well thought out initiative that will no doubt provide relief to the victims of terror attacks in the country.

ICPC quizzes two Ogun officials over alleged corruption Kunle Olayeni, ABEOKUTA Independent CorTerhe rupt Practices and othrelated offences Com-

mission (ICPC) yesterday quizzed two officials of the Ogun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure over alleged corrupt practices and violation of the Act establishing the anti-graft agency.

The two officials, Adebayo Adedeji and Adio Sogbesan, were said to have been quizzed at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja for several hours and were still being detained as at press time.

New Telegraph gathered that the ICPC had earlier requested for some documents relating to some capital projects

handled by the ministry.

Copies of two letters dated July 28 and obtained by our correspondent yesterday showed that the Head, Financial Investigation Unit of the commission, Kayode Adebayo, signed the letters requesting for documents.

One of the letters read, “The Commission is investigating allegations bordering on the violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Act 2000 in your ministry.

“In pursuant to Section 28 of the said Act, you are requested to release the under listed documents to the Investigating Officers: Cash book of all project accounts for the period 2008 to 2012."

Babangida: Nigeria needs internal solution to insurgency Impeachment: Enugu panel bars journalists his wife, Halima Isiyaka dle it.

Uwakwe Abugu added, "We want to reit- notices of this sitting on the SECURITY Rabiu, noted at the Mal“I think if Kano will be ENUGU erate the point we made parties involved.

Babangida hails Kano, praises FG for efforts of reckling insurgency

Muhammad Kabir KANO

F

ormer President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has re-echoed his calls for the use of internal mechanism to tackle the spread of deadly insurgencies that has befall Nigeria.

That is even as he commended the Federal and Kano State governments for their efforts in tackling the problems.

Babangida, who was speaking with newsmen on his way back to Minna after condoling with the families of Sheik Isiyaku Rabiu, who lost

lam Aminu Kano International Airport, that the issue of insurgencies and the frequent killings of innocent people were something of worry that should be tackled through homemade approach.

He disclosed that; ‘ the issues at hand is a Nigerian problem that should be confronted with the Nigerian solution, and I believe the government is doing well. I also like the approach taken by Kano, because they are very proactive by trying to put up some measures in tackling the case’.

Babangida noted further that for the nation to be free of the cases, other states should be proactive in the approach towards tackling the issue of insurgencies and bringing in serious measures from within on how to take han-

so proactive and the strategy is paying, why not use the same method all over the federation and the states because it is only when you know where a problem is coming from that you will be able to internally tackle it”, he said.

In the same vein, the former President noted that the citizenry should be cooperative with the security agencies by stopping unnecessary accusation on them and rather by providing the desired information that would lead to tackling the problems.

This, he disclosed, will be among other measures that will be the home made solutions he mentioned, which would in turn, help in no small measure in freeing Nigeria from the bondage of the insurgents and other criminal acts.

T

he 7-man panel, inaugurated to probe allegations of misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, began sitting yesterday but journalists received a shock when it announced that newsmen were banned from coverage of its proceedings.

When the panel began sitting, it happened that none of the parties to the matter was in court to appear before the panelists.

The chairman, Uchenna Oraekeyi, explained that the absence of the said parties was responsible for the late take-off of the sitting which came behind schedule, starting at 10.45am as against 9am, although the panel members arrived in good time.

The panel chairman

yesterday, (Tuesday). We are not a tool for political witch-hunt.

"We will give fair hearing to all the parties to come and prove or defend the allegations as the case may be. Nobody should entertain any fear.

"It is an investigative sitting: We will not hold public sittings; after today, there will be restrictions.

We may not allow the press; the only people we shall allow here are the members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, the Deputy Governor or their representatives. However, on the issue of absence of the parties involved, Barr. Innocent Eze, the Director of Civil Litigation in the Enugu State Ministry of Justice, who appeared for the state, told the panel that "ordinarily, there is supposed to be evidence of service of

"So, I don't know whether there is proof of service from the records of the panel", he stated.

Upon that, the panel Chairman said there is no proof of service and pointed out that since the issue of service was very fundamental, it had to be handled effectively and promptly.

Hence, the panel ruled that "a summon should be served on the Hon. Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly and the Deputy Governor as well as any other witnesses in the matter".

Like the House of Assembly did, it further ordered that if personal service was not possible on the Deputy Governor, a substituted means should be used to summon him to the panel.

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Thursday, August 7, 2014

Wike: Six commissioners to dump Amaechi

• PDP'll soon expel the junior minister, APC replies POLITICS Junior minister bubbles with confidence, governors men deflate the super hype Emmanuel Masha

Port Harcourt

M

inister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike has said that six commissioners presently serving in the cabinet of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi are set

to resign their appointments and dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Wike stated this at Akpor Grammar School, Ozuoba in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, venue of an empowerment programme of First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, who is on a working visit to the state.

Wike, who spoke shortly before the First Lady, said that the commissioners had finalized their defection to the PDP, and that they

will finally dump the APC in December.

He explained that the leadership of the PDP in the state and the lawmakers agreed that the lawmakers should remain in the Amaechi’s government in order to make more money, and return to their family.

“Look at the leadership of the state. Look at who is who in the state.

The agreement we had was that they should make money and return to their family.

“I won’t call their names, so that they don’t sack them. But

they know themselves and at the appropriate time, they will join the PDP,” Wike said.

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) described Wike’s comment as wishful thinking, saying that the PDP is not on ground in Rivers to make any commissioner to dump the government of Amaechi.

The state chairman of the APC, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, while reacting through his senior special aide on media, Chief Eze Chkwuemeka Eze, said that

the APC has inaugurated a 10-member committee to advise the coming APC government on how to enthrone a more peopleoriented government.

He also said that some members of the PDP with governorship ambition had been meeting with the APC on how to join the party based on their not being endorsed

by Dame Jonathan.

He said: “In this regard, Chief Nyesom Wike in the next few weeks will be expelled

by PDP for anti-party activities to pave way for the First Lady's anointed

candidate.

“APC, as of now is the last bus stop for any serious politician in River State as we intend to finally announce the demise of PDP when Mama Peace comes open with her programme for Rivers State and this will be done before the end of October.”

Meanwhile security was beefed up in Port Harcourt following the First Lady's visit, as soldiers and mobile policemen took positions in strategic points around her old GRA residence.

Defection: APGA sets up reconciliation committee Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

W

L-R: General Manager, Development, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Bayo Ojulari; Chief Operating Officer, GE Oil and Gas, West Africa, Mr. Uzochi Uwagwu and Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Mr. Tony Attah, at the 2014 annual conference of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigeria Council, in Lagos...yesterday

Eat bats; no Ebola in Benue, says Suswam

Chukwu tasks chemists on empowerment

Cephas Iorhemen

Lateef Ibrahim

Makurdi

G

overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has urged the people of the state to feel free to eat bats.

The animal is reported to be one of the sources of transmission of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease. The governor said adequate measures have been put in place to prevent its outbreak in the state.

Speaking with newsmen in Makurdi against the backdrop of the heavy presence of bats on trees planted at government house, the governor said the bats took over government house long before he became governor and there was no need for alarm.

Suswam expressed optimism that the killer disease will not find its way into the state, noting that they are as old as himself, adding that precautionary measures have already been put in place to get rid of the spread of the virus.

"We have never had the issue of Ebola here in the

state. But I am not disputing the fact that doctors say so, but the bats that are here, you all know that since Benue State was created, those bats have been living here and we never had the incidence of Ebola disease. So what the doctors have said, I will not contest with them because I am not competent in that area", said Suswam.

The governor stated that his Commissioner for Health, Mr. Orduen Abunku, has been properly briefed on the outbreak of the EVD and is to meet with the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu in Abuja alongside other state commissioners to collect kits, which the state government does not have in readiness to fight the disease.

"The Federal Government is going to give us testing kits, which we don't have here, so that if by chance, we have the incidence, those people who will come into contact will be treated", he added.

Abuja

H

ealth Minister, Dr Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday challenged members of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, ICCON, to go a step further in the quest for the economic empowerment for chemists in particular and Nigerians in general.

The Minister specifically urged the Institute to go into synergy with relevant organizations like Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agencies and Bank of Industry, among others, with a view to providing a platform through which Nigerian Chemists will have the wherewithal to set up cottage industries.

Chukwu stated this in a speech he presented at the opening of the 6th mandatory continuing professional development workshop organized by the ICCON in Abuja.

The two-day conference ends today. The Minister, who was represented at the workshop by the Director

of Human Health Services in the Ministry, Mrs Vera Ugbechie, pointed out that such a synergy between the Institute and relevant organizations would serve as a further boost to the government's quest for economic empowerment of the people through the exploitation of the non-oil sectors of the economy.

While further advising the Institute to explore avenues of interaction with prospective investors in the chemical sector, Chukwu reasoned that the economic impact of chemists on the larger society will enhance their visibility on the national scene.

He assured that his ministry would continue to provide support, as much as possible, to the Institute to actualize the mandates for which it was established.

According to him; "We are not ignorant of programmes organized by the Institute in the recent past and we hope the tempo will be sustained towards impacting positively on the larger society".

orried by what it called an unprecedented defection of party stalwarts to other parties, the leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) under the chairmanship of factional leader, Chief Maxi Okwu has set up a seven man reconciliation committee to woo back all those who left the party.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant Media to Okwu, Hon. Victor Chigozie Eneh, the Committee is headed by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Chris Ejike Uche.

The Committee, the statement noted, is to "quickly move in and woo back our stalwarts from the National Assembly, who intend to leave the party".

Other members of the

committee are - Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba, Dr. Sagir Maidoya, Alhji Sadeeq Masalla, Hajia Zainab, Abdullahi and Mr. Ezekiel Adegboyega.

“While we await the recovery of the party via the Supreme Court, we have set up a seven-member Special Committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (South) Chief Chris Ejike Uche, to quickly move in and woo back our stalwarts from the National Assembly, who intend to leave the party”, the statement said.

It added that Okwu has promised to reconcile all aggrieved members and resolve all issues as the nation prepares for the 2015 general elections.

The statement urged APGA members to be calm, prayerful and await the outcome of the leadership dispute pending at the Supreme Court.

Attah of Igala eulogises Aliyu Dan Atori

MINNA

he Attah of Igala and TCouncil President, Kogi State of Chiefs, HRM Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni, has described Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State as a detribalized, patriotic and selfless Nigerian, who is committed to promoting unity, harmony and peace among complaints.

The Attah who praised Aliyu for appointing an Igala man, Mr Israel Ayegba Ebije, as his Chief Press Secretary, said Aliyu is indeed a true Nigerian, who is committed to building bridges of unity, harmony and progress across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

The monarch, while playing host to Governor Aliyu's Chief Press Secretary, Mr Israel Ayegba Ebije in his palace in Idah, Kogi State, said he was

grateful to Aliyu for honouring their son and by extension the entire Igala kingdom. He said Aliyu was one of the few leaders, truly committed to uniting all the zones of the country and urged other leaders to emulate his leadership style.

While praying God to guide and protect the governor as he pilots the affairs of Niger State, Attah Oboni also hailed the Aliyu for appointing another Igala man, Abdullahi Yunusa as Special Assistant, Speechwriting, Research and Documentation.

"By this action and several other landmark achievements, Governor Aliyu has exhibited rare patriotism.

This is an act worthy of commendation. The Chief Servant has indeed honoured me and my people. We are indeed happy and honoured by this rare show of love, recognition and support for the Igala nation," he added.

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Al-Makura: Lawyers disagree on options for Assembly Foluso Ogunmodede, Tunde Oyesina, Joseph Onyekwere and Biodun Oyeleye

B

arely forty-eight hours after a sevenman probe panel inaugurated to investigate allegations of gross misconduct preferred against the Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura by the state lawmakers gave him a clean bill, some prominent lawyers yesterday disagreed on the options open to the panel.

While some lawyers said that the assembly has no other option that to abide by the verdict of the panel, some said the assembly can approach the court to challenge the composition of the panel by the Chief Judge.

Some of those who

75

spoke with the New Telegraph included Malam Yusuf Ali, Mike Ahamba, Ahmed Raji, Chief Awa Kalu, Godwin Obla, all Senior advocates of Nigeria.

Ali said that assembly does not have any other option than to accept the verdict.

He added that the Constitution was very clear on such issues and that it did not give the assembly any other option apart from abiding by the decision of the panel.

According to him, "the only option is that that matter is dead for all times and purposes.

"The probe panel has exonerated the governor from all the allegations against him and that is the final bus stop.

"There is nothing the assembly can do about

The life expectancy (in years) at birth of Algeria in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

it again. The assembly should defend the Constitution and not party loyalty".

While agreeing that the assembly is left with accepting the verdict, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ahmed Raji took a step further to submit that the assembly can approach the court to challenge the constitution of the probe panel by the Chief Judge.

He further stated that the assembly can on the other hand commence a fresh impeachment proceedings based on a fresh grounds different from the old grounds dismissed by the panel.

Also reacting, Chief Awa Kalu, SAN stated that if the assembly was not witch hunting the governor, it should accept the verdict of the probe panel.

83%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Canada in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

"By dismissing the allegation against the governor, it means there is no prove of misconduct and as such, the governor should be left and let go.

"That is one leg, on the other hand, the assembly can wait for a fresh misdeed by the governor, then initiate a fresh impeachment proceedings.

"For all I know, impeachment is a trial and you can't try the same person twice on a same charge".

For Chief Mike Ahamba SAN, the assembly has no option than to accept its fate.

According to him,"just as Al-Makura has no option, the assembly also has no other option than to accept the judgement of the panel.

"It is a two way thing,

the constitution is very clear about the impeachment proceedings and the probe panel is the final bus stop.

"Though, I will call for the review for the proposition of impeachment, it is an abuse of the rule of law. The whole thing is a mockery of our judicial system".

Obla stated that as far as the Constitution was concerned, the decision of the legally constituted panel is the final for all intent and purposes.

He however added that, anyhow, the assembly looked at it, the decision has exonerated the governor at least from the allegations presented before the panel.

Obla further stated that when the judgement is transmitted to the as-

25.44

2015: George, Ogunlewe reconcile ahead of Jonathan’s visit

The average age of the Ghana team in the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Goal.com

Wale Elegbede and Tosin Omoniyi lingering cold war Tutyhe between a former DepNational Chairman

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; his Ogun States counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Alake Adeyemo, during the South West Governor’s Press Conference on the Ebola Virus disease in Lagos …yesterday

Why Ekwunife dumped APGA for PDP Tony Okafor AWKA

B

arely five days after Representative Uche Ekwunife reportedly dumped her political platform-the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) reasons have been adduced as to why she so did.

Our source said she was promised the senatorial seat of the Anambra Central zone by an influential female personality in Aso Rock(names withheld) Ekwunife, who is currently representing Anaocha/Dunukofi/Njikoka in the House of Representatives , it was gathered, initially wanted to actualise her new dream

in APGA but was greeted by stiff opposition within the hierarchy of the party.

According to our check, Ekwunife became disenchanted with APGA, when the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, officially declared his intention to vie for the senatorial seat of the same district.

In a sharp reaction to this situation, Ekwunife in an outburst said :"I won't want to be in a place where I cannot be allowed to air my opinion. Political parties are not cult groups. Age is on my side; I won't want anybody to ruin my political career. I have rejoined the PDP where I originally belonged; where true de-

mocracy exists and people can have the opportunity to air their views” Again , it was gathered that the state governor , Willie Obiano also resisted Ekwunife’s new ambition to contest any election on the platform of APGA in next year's polls, apparently because of Ekwunife's initial opposition to Obiano's nomination as the standard bearer of APGA in last year's Anambra governorship race.

Ekwunife had then dragged Obiano to court, contending that she was the validly nominated candidate of the party in the that poll , stressing that Obiano, having allegedly registered as a voter in multiple places, should be stopped by the

court from contesting the election on the platform of APGA ,submitting that herself that came second in the party's governorship primary election should be declared the candidate of the party in the race.

Though , Ekwunife later voluntarily withdrew the matter from the court , insiders say the governor had not forgiven her for that embarrassment.

Our source revealed that it was Ekwunife that talked some of her APGA colleagues from Anambra state in House of Representatives into joining her to defect to the PDP, assuring them that her Aso Rock benefactress would also facilitate their re-election next year.

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George and a former minister, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, was yesterday laid to rest as the duo buried their differences ahead of the anticipated visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the Lagos State chapter of the party.

The two gladiators, with their supporters, met at the Ikoyi office of George, expressing their resolve to work together for the progress of the party in the 2015 elections, adding that the reported battle over the soul of the party in the state has been settled following their decision to close ranks.

sembly, it should look at it critically to learn from its supposed mistake as such will help the nation's jurisprudence.

But the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki has appealed to politicians in the country not to place their personal ambition above the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

Saraki, who made the appeal in a statement he personally signed to congratulate Nassarawa State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura on the dismissal of the impeachment notice against him, said anyone involved in acts against the continuity of the nation’s democracy should cease from such and allow the will of the people to prevail.

Addressing the gathering, Ogunlewe, who led members of his group to the event, said that there is no more dispute over the leadership of George as the leader of the party in the South-West, adding that he and his supporters remained united with George in the quest to win Lagos State for PDP by 2015.

“We have agreed that there is nothing we can do behind Chief Bode George. He has continued to empower a number of people and we are ready to work with him.

“Today is a day of friendship. The day of amicable movement of the PDP forward; some want us to continue to fight but I said I will go to meet my friend, so that we can work for the victory of our party come 2015,” he said.

Police parade army officer who kidnapped Mikel Obi's father Tony Okafor AWKA

nambra State Special A(SARS) Anti Robbery Squad led by CSP James

Nwafor has nabbed the a gang said to be responsible for the kidnap of the father of Chelsea and Nigerian Super Eagles footballer, Mikel Obi. The suspect, Prince Ndubuisi Friday, from Nkwoegbu community, Abia State alleged to be expelled from the Nigerian Army for his involvement in the kidnap of Mikel Obi’s father was caught in another kidnap with his gang.

Ndubuisi and his gang, Ifeanyi Chukwulube alias Mmili , Ibegbunam Morris Kingsley alias Zili and Mohammed Sani were caught after kidnapping Ayika Clement, brother

to Hon Anyika Valentine of Anambra State House of Assembly.

PPRO, Anambra Command, DSP Emeka Chukwuemeka, who paraded the suspects, commended the command for unravelling the syndicate, adding that all those at large were already rounded up at their various locations.

The gang leader, Ndubuisi admitted that he kidnapped Mikel Obi’s father and Anyika before they were rounded up in Lagos by the Anambra State police command SARS team led by James Nwafor.

“I was dismissed from the Nigerian army in 2011 after I was deceived by some people led by Elvans, who said we should come and arrest Mikel Obi’s father but we did not know it was kidnapping."

news

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Counterfeiting: SON lacks prosecutorial powers, says DG lOver 1 million jobs lost to fake products Louis Achi

Abuja

L

ack of power to prosecute offenders and a weak regulatory framework has been the key challenges to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), in executing its statutory mandate of enforcing product standards in the country.

This position was expressed by Director General of the Organisation, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, while responding to questions during the anti-counterfeiting summit hosted by Hewlett Packard (HP) in Abuja yesterday.

“Although legislations to strengthen regulation are being improved on, we do not have prosecutorial powers today. We want to be able to prosecute,” he said, adding that “the extant laws only allow the police and the at-

torney-generals of the state or federal to prosecute.

Odumodu also disclosed that since 2000, more than one million Nigerians in the textile sector have lost their jobs because of counterfeiting.

According to SON, activities of product counterfeiters have fast-tracked the closure of many manufacturing companies adding that the sector’s survivors were just managing to operate.

Stating that the negative microeconomic effects have been simply “devastating”, he said those have impacted on the volume of sales, prices and costs of rights holders as well as investment, royalties and brand value.

His words: “While over one million jobs have been lost since the year 2000 with consumers lives put under threat, the effect of counterfeiting on the Nigerian

economy might endanger the new position Nigeria has assumed as a new economy frontier.”

According to Odumodu, counterfeited products may offer cheap alternatives to genuine goods but was usually of inferior quality to customers.

“For certain types of fake goods, the health and safety of consumers may be put at a significant risk”, he said.

Appraising the larger effect of counterfeiting on government, he noted that counterfeiting and piracy have effects on tax revenues, government expenditure especially on the cost of anti-counterfeiting.

“And when you factor in corruption, it reduces the effectiveness of public institutions,” he said.

On the environmental impact of fake products, SON held that counterfeit-

ing causes environmental degradation through the significant waste produced through destroying faked items.

His words: “Environmental harm is also caused when substandard products are made that do not comply with environmental standards, for instance unsafe counterfeit fertilisers.”

In his earlier appraisal of the scourge, the SON boss observed that about 80 per cent of mobile phone sales at the Computer Village in Lagos, the much touted largest technology market in Africa, are fake products.

According to him, SON operatives discovered this when investigations revealed that the larger sales percentage from Hewlett Packard and brands like Nokia, Samsung and others did not come from their manufacturers directly but through counterfeiting.

Cleric tasks leaders on prayers Onah.O. Onah

Onitsha

n Anglican Cleric and the ADiocese Bishop of Eha-Amufu in Nsukka Eccle-

siastical province, Rt. Rev. Dan Olinya has called on the leadership of this country to tackle the nation’s problems with prayers it victory must be assured.

Bishop Olinya who made the call during a Trinity Ordination of 20 Deacons at Basilica of St. Andrews Anglican Church Odakpu Onitsha in a sermon to mark the occasion observed that Nigeria has invoked the anger of God and if adequate repentance measure is not taken, the country would be heading for doom.

Addressing the Anglican faithfuls and the ordained Deacons, Bishop Olinya said the problem with the country is that both the

Edo Assembly crisis: PDP lawmakers want to run abroad, says APC

Tony Anichebe

Uyo

resident Goodluck JonaPpaign than’s re-election camis gathering momen-

Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State yesterday raised the alarm over alleged plan by three out of the four suspended lawmakers of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to escape the shores of the country.

Publicity Secretary of the APC in the State, Comrade Godwin Erhahon stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin the state capital.

He said the planned escape by the embattled PDP legislators was aimed at evading arrest by security

agencies following an impending warrant of arrest on them.

Already, moves are on the way by the ruling APC to seek the order of court to seize the international passports of affected PDP lawmakers.

“Information reaching All Progressives Congress, APC revealed that three of the four suspended members of Edo State House of Assembly have concluded plans to flee the country for fear of the impending bench warrant for their arrest and prosecution for contempt”, Erhahon said.

He said: “Reliable sources said the three sus-

pended legislators have decided to escape the arrest after an elderly Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, told them that they were prison-bound following the call-off of strike action

by Judiciary workers. The strike has been delaying court decision on APC application for warrant of arrest against them”.

He allegedly that the SAN was reported to have blamed the only lawyer among the four embattled decampee lawmakers for misleading his colleagues into disobeying orders of both a Benin High Court and the Appeal Court restraining them from enter-

ing the House.

“The three suspended lawmakers alleged to be planning escape are Mr. Jude Ise-Idehen, Mr. Patrick Osayimwen and Festus Ebea. All three came from abroad to contest election to the House in 2011.

“They are reported to have secretly ganged up against Mr. Friday Ogieriakhi representing Orhionmwon South Constituency before his suspension, for not advising them sincerely on the adverse consequences of disobeying the court order restraining them from forcefully entering the House after they have been retrained.

rial District as its State’s Chairman.

Others are Mrs. Evelyn Okon, Eket Senatorial District, Deputy Chairman while Mr. Nkanang Akpan Nkanang from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District was elected Secretary.

The remaining positions in the executive body according to the returning officer for the elections, Pastor Emmanuel Bassey, would be filled in a later date together with the Chapters, Local Governments and Ward Excos.

Pastor Emmanuel Bassey, however charged the elected officers to work assiduously to take the body to a higher level, adding that they were confident in they would advance the course of the organization in the State and the country at large.

Most politicians join race just to be settled, says Aliyu Dan Atori

MINNA

lCourt may seize lawmakers’ passports

clergies and the laities have abandoned their God in pursuit of material wealth while using Jesus Christ as an epitome of a perfect example in life and in ministry.

“If you look up to Jesus, you see the perfect example of total obedience, powerful missionary and a perfect intercessor of a man who understand the will of God“, he assured.

To the ordained, the officiating Bishop stated that they must know the reason for their calling, the mission of the church and will of God who called them.

He however warned them of the eminent temptation that they will encounter, saying that Jesus Christ while on his mission on earth encountered so many challenges, but he understood his mission and did not want anything or anybody to distract him.

2015: Jonathan’s support group elects new exco

tum in Akwa Ibom State as his support group elects new executive members in Akwa Ibom.

The group known as Like-Minds Development Support Foundation is intensifying effort to mobilise support for the president’s re-election if he declare to run for a second term.

The group vowed to return Mr. President for a second term in office come 2015 adding that it would mobilize Nigerians across the country and the Diaspora to achieve this goal.

The election of the new executives conducted in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital has Prince Ukpong Umoren from Uyo SenatoMinister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka (left) and State House counsel, Jamil Arabi, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

9

s the race for the senatoADemocratic rial ticket of the Peoples Party (PDP)

for Niger East senatorial election and the 2015 governorship race get closer, the Niger State Governor, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu yesterday mocked that some politicians join political race just because they want to be ‘settled’ and not because they are genuinely interested in the contest.

Governor Aliyu said in Minna when he received five pick up vans equipped with communication gadgets donated to the State

by Communication giant MTN to aid movement of security operatives.

According to him, those categories of politicians only want to be noticed for political patronage if the party forms government.

“Some of them enter the race to get money. We will not beg anybody to step down. If God gives you the ticket we will accept you if you lose your money it is your own cup of tea", he warned.

The Governor who is also the Chairman of the Northern States Governor’s Forum threw his weight behind the decision of government to deploy men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for election duties though it is not part of the constitutional role because of the ‘do or die approach of politicians to election matters.

10

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www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

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abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com; otuntise@yahoo.co.uk

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

0802 393 8212

Slitting victim’s throat takes two minutes, says Boko Haram’s ‘chief butcher’ explained that the “interaction” became expedient, in order to clear doubts that the suspect had escaped from custody.

“The suspect is still in our custody,” Mba said, while urging the public to “ignore such rumour”.

The FPRO noted that the action was in the best culture of transparent policing.

He also enjoined the media to always approach the police for useful information and clarifications, rather than indulge in speculations and misrepresentation of facts.

“You will recall that on July 15, 2014, the police high command had issued a statement wherein we announced the

CHILLING CONFESSION Life, truly, means nothing to the terrorists. The self-acclaimed Boko Haram chief butcher says it takes him only 120 seconds to slit the throat of a human being Emmanuel Onani

T

he “chief butcher” of the Boko Haram sect, Zakari Mohammed, yesterday declared that it took him only two minutes to “slaughter” anyone held in captivity.

Mohammed was earlier arrested by police detectives in Bauchi State.

The suspected senior member of the terror group made the chilling confession before journalists at one of the fortified police facilities, where he is being held.

There had been rumour of purported escape of the high-profile suspect from custody; a development, which necessitated the police to have him interact with journalists, and thus, put a lie to the speculation.

The self-confessed “chief butcher,” who was arrested on Darazo-Basrika Road in Bauchi, while fleeing the intensive military operations being carried out around the heavily-bombarded Balmo forest, also confessed to have joined the sect two years ago.

Mohammed, who claimed to be 30 years

Ebola: Bush meat sellers protest ban in Edo Cajetan Mmuta BENIN Mohammed

old, from Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State, said he “slaughtered” five people, before he was arrested and taken into custody.

He named other members as Hassan, Garuba, Mohammed and another, whose name he could not remember.

Mohammed was also said to have participated in the April attack on Customs officers at Kari Town, on Maiduguri Road, Bauchi State.

Speaking with journalists later, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba,

embers of the National Bush Meat M Sellers Association (NBMSA) took to the streets of Benin, yesterday to pro-

tect Edo State Government’s ban on the consumption ‘bush meat’ at state functions and homes.

The state NBMSA Vice-Chairperson, Mrs Comfort Omoruyi, told journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Benin that by the government’s decision, her members had lost over 50 per cent of their customers.

She decried the ban, which said, would bring their business to extinction.

Omoruyi said her group was yet to confirm the government decision on the Ebola and described as “a propaganda tool the wild campaign against eating of bush meat”.

She said it was a ploy by the developed nations to divert the attention of Africans from the consumption of bush meat as a source of protein.

“Most of our customers from the Government House have stopped coming to buy from us. They told us ‘Oga’ said we should not bring bush meat to the Government House again. In fact, most restaurants, fast food centres and major hotels in Edo State have stopped cooking bush meat because of the fear of Ebola,’’ Omoruyi added.

Imminent flooding worries Dutse residents

NDLEA promotes 1,283 officers Juliana Francis

Dahiru Suleiman

T

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday announced the promotion of 1,283 of its officers.

It was learnt that the NDLEA Governing Board approved the promotion to repay hard work and enhance productivity, loyalty and dedication to duty.

NDLEA Head, Media and Publicity, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said that the promotion, which cuts across various cadres, was one of the numerous counter-narcotics strategies adopted to adequately motivate officers.

It was also learnt that officers and men of the agency were in high spirit as a result of the promotion.

The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said the importance of promotion could not be ignored in a sensitive job as drug control.

“It is one of the ways of enhancing productivity, loyalty and diligence.

The agency will continue to conduct promotion regularly in line with normal career progression,” he said.

According to Ofoyeju, a total of 1,283 officers were promoted, 54 Deputy Commanders of Narcotics were promoted to the rank of Commander of Narcotics.

Seventy-seven others, he said, were

arrest of a high-profile suspect on the fringes of Balmo forest.

“Investigations, coupled with suspect’s revelations, clearly show that he is an active participant in many operations; his area of specialisation is butchering,” he stated.

Mba, however, expressed surprise that in the last few days, there had been rumours suggesting that the suspect had escaped from custody.

He said: “It is for this reason that we brought out the suspect for you (journalists) to interact with him, in the best culture of policing and transparency.”

The FPRO added that the target of attack of an average terrorist “is borderless”.

DUTSE

residents of Dutse, the Jigawa State Tinghe capital, are worried over imminent floodbecause of inadequate provision of

NDLEA Director-General, Mrs. Roli George and Giade at a recent function

moved from the rank of Assistant Commander of Narcotics to Deputy Commander of Narcotics. The board also approved the elevation of 47 officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Narcotics to Assistant Commanders of Narcotics.

According to him, 422 officers were promoted from the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics to Superintendent of Narcotics, while 541 were elevated from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics I to Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics. He added: “The agency also promoted 32 officers from the rank of Assistant Superinten-

dent of Narcotics II to Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics I. A total of 105 Chief Narcotic Agents that passed the conversion course from Agent cadre were also promoted as commissioned officers with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics II.” The chairman approved the special promotion of five officers found to be exceptionally outstanding, dedicated and committed to their duties.

While congratulating the promoted officers, Giade enjoined them to redouble their loyalty, dedication to duty and commitment to the nation’s drug control programmes.

drainages within the metropolis by the government.

Investigation shows that some major streets in the ancient city have been submerged by flood due to downpour in the last couple of days.

Such places are Kachi, Sabon Maranjuwa, Limawa, Zai to mention but a few.

One of those whose houses were flooded, Malam Isa Sabon Maranjuwa, said even though government had constructed drainages in some areas, much was expected to be done to save people’s lives in his own area.

But to Malam Abdu Zai, the responsibility of flood control should not be left for the government alone. According to him, it requires collective effort.

He said: “People should desist from the habit of dumping refuse on waterways to curb drainage blockage and allow for easy flow of water.”

Places such as Zai, Limawa, Yalawawa, Gadadin, Galadanchi, Sabon Maranjuwa, among other quarters in Dutse, are in dire need of access roads and modern drainage.

Officials of the Ministry of Environment refused to comment on the issue.

METRO

Thursday, August 7, 2014

11

Lover: I killed Edmark MD for cheating on me Juliana Francis Williams, 31, Kheelechukwu yesterday explained why strangled to death his

lover, Njideka Lizzy Nzewi, at Festac in Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State.

Nzewi (39) was the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Edmark International.

Williams said he murdered the mother of four because he thought she was cheating on him.

The suspect said the deceased made him to jilt his former lover because she wanted him to be faithful to her, thus he expected her to do the same.

But the police believed that Nzewi’s murder was not an accident as Williams is claiming.

The police said that he made a passport bearing her name. This singular act proved that he had intention of killing her.

According to him, on the fateful night he murdered Nzewi, which was a Friday, she left home in the morning, only to return about mid night, reeking of alcohol.

While he was asking her where she went, her phone stared to ring. He picked the call and heard the voice of a man asking: “Baby, are you home?”

This, according to Wil-

liams, infuriated him and he lost control of himself.

He said: “She held my penis. She had a short tight and a tank top. A wrapper was around her neck. She wanted to go and bathe. I used the wrapper around her neck to strangle her.

When I left her apartment and locked the doors, I knew she was dead.”

Ironically, Nzewi was killed in the building housing her four children, maid and security guard.

“The children and maid were in another room in the house. They did not know what was happening. When I killed her, I was confused. I didn’t take any money from the house. I only took her two phones. I had her ATM card. I went to the gate and told the security guard that his madam and I would be going to the club that I wanted to go and cash money,” Williams said.

The security guard, John Tungwin, who was the only person that knows the woman’s ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN), fell for Williams’ lie.

He went with the suspect to the ATM and provided the PIN. They cashed about N140,000. When they got to the gate of the house, Williams said he wanted to go and pick his friend first and then he would come and

pick Nzewi.

He left with the woman’s Range Rover and did not return until he was arrested at Abidjan border, as he was fleeing Ghana, where he resided.

Police had earlier alleged that the suspect made away with Nzewi’s Range Rover, phones, $50,000 and N8 million meant for the running of her business. Williams denied the allegations, insisting there was no money in the house.

Addressing journalists, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, said the suspect came from Ghana to visit the deceased whom he called his lover.

He said: “They met in Ghana. He had visited twice.

The third visit ended in tragedy. He came in on July 18, but on 19, he woke up and told the security guard that he was sent by the lady to go and cash money from ATM for her. He drove off and disappeared.”

Manko said that the following morning, Tungwin became worried after his ‘madam’ did not come out and the room was locked.

Using a borrowed ladder, he climbed, peeped into the window and discovered that the woman was on the ground inside the room.

“He disappeared to Ghana. The Area ‘E’ Command-

Six arrested for killing army, naval officers Juliana Francis

P

olice in Lagos have arrested six people fingered in the murder of Army and naval officers.

Those arrested are two military men, three bouncers and a young lady said to be at the centre of the fight which led to the killing.

The deceased officers were said to have been killed at the Apapa area of the metropolis.

It was gathered that a soldier, on Tuesday, went to a night club on Payne Crescent with his girlfriend, but the bouncers at the gate did not allow the lady to enter.

They insisted that the lady, who wore a camouflage shorts, was not a soldier and as such should pay gate fee.

A police sergeant, attached to Area ‘B’ Apapa Police Command disclosed that there was a heated argument among the soldiers, the lady and the bouncers which attracted a naval officer.

On hearing that the woman was not a soldier, the naval officer condemned the soldier for even allowing her to wear the uniform.

The naval officer, who identified himself to the soldier, also insisted that the woman should pay gate fee.

His intervention angered the soldier who allegedly whipped out a dagger and stabbed the naval officer to death.

The news of the killing filtered into the ears of naval personnel who raced to the scene and in

turn killed the soldier.

Some of the residents were said to have fled the area while shops were shut for fear the attack would degenerate.

When our correspondent visited the night club yesterday, it was locked.

A police source said the Area Commander, ACP Innocent Ndubueze Anene, swiftly moved a team of policemen to the scene.

The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Lelma Kolle, confirmed the story.

He said that the soldier went to the club with the woman who was in camouflage shorts and wanted to enter, but they were barred.

Williams

er, Mr Dan Okoro, got in touch with Interpol and the police in Ghana. The ‘Jeep’ was tracked and he was arrested on his way out of Ghana. He was caught at the border, with his load already packed into the woman’s car,” Manko added.

Williams said he had known Nzewi for years, but they became lovers in February. When he came to Nigeria to see her, they had gone out on Thursday. On Friday, she left him at home in the morning to rest. She said she was going to check on her house at Satellite

town.

When it was 6pm, Williams said he became worried and called her number for over 30 times.

The phone rang but she did not pick. By the time she got back about 12 midnight, Williams was fuming.

He said: “When she returned, I asked where she went. I told her I had been calling her phone. She said it was on silence. I noticed she was drunk. I asked her why she left me at home and went out. Someone called, but she didn’t want to pick. I picked it

and heard a guy’s voice.

I reminded her how she broke my phone in Ghana when she came to visit and picked my call to hear a woman calling my line.

“We started quarrelling. She threw my things out. I told her to give me the N300,000 I gave her to buy generator. She said she didn’t have money, that she was expecting some money from Edmark. I told her to give me her ATM to go and check. We fought over taking control of her phone. She slapped me and I slapped her back.”

Rotary Club votes N5m for health projects in Ojo Olushola Ricketts Rotary Club of Ojo, DisTN5hetrict 9110, has earmarked million for health and

disease control-related projects in the next 12 months for Lagos State residents in Ojo Local Government Area and its environs.

Mr Odusanya Olasunkanmi, disclosed this in an interview with NT Metro after his induction as the 29th president of the.

Olasunkanmi said the club intended to engage the services of medical experts and social welfare workers to

spread the campaign against Ebola virus.

He said: “Besides, we intend to print fliers, detailing the symptoms, as announced

by World Health Organisation (WHO), the Federal and Lagos Ministries of Health for distribution to every nook and cranny of the Ojo communities.

“We intend to take this campaign to maternity homes, primary healthcare centres, schools such as the Lagos State University (LASU), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), as well as secondary schools and public places too.

“At the end of the day, our objective is to create awareness and save lives from the dreaded virus.

“Other activities include donation of drugs and other health materials to Ojo health centres; child care seminar and donation of birth kits to pregnant women; rebuilding of a block of classroom and administrative office at L.A. Primary School in Okoludun; vocational/empower ment programme and donation of 20 sewing machines to youths in Ojo; donation and renovation of bore-hole to Ojo community among other.”

Seven babies delivered at IDPs’ camp Ugo Willies GOMBE

even babies have been deStemporary livered by five women at camp of the In-

Manko

Nzewi’s car

ternally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Gombe in Gombe State.

The deliveries took place within the last two weeks.

Two of the women gave birth to a set of twins each.

This is as 35 others may deliver any moment from now.

The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Danlami Rukujei, told journalists that all the five women and their babies who delivered at the Madi Memorial Hospital and Pantami

Maternity Clinic in Gombe metropolis were in good condition of health.

Rukujei said SEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were closely monitoring the other 35 other women who might deliver soon while they also received medical attention.

He explained that although doctors in government hospitals were on strike, his agency had selected Madi Memorial Hospital and Pantami Maternity Clinic to serve as hospitals that would handle medical needs of all displaced persons in the state for the time being.

Rukujei also disclosed that the population of the Gombe IDPs’ camp kept growing as the camp now had 1,600 displaced

persons with latest arrivals coming from Buni-Yadi in Yobe State where there was a recent attack by Boko Haram.

He said that although majority of the displaced persons in the camp were from Borno State, the Gombe State Government had no problem handling the rising population of the displaced persons.

“The means of camping them was not outside the scope of the state government and it would continue to discharge this responsibility earnestly and ensure the people are being taken care off. More so, individuals and corporate bodies have been offering various kinds of assistance to the camp,” Rukujei added.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Igbinedion, Oshiomhole in secret talk over Edo politics HEAD WAY

In the name of the father, the son may come to agree. that sounds like a ploy to restore sanity Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

E

sama of Benin and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion yesterday met behind closed door with Governor Adams Oshiomhole at the Government House, Benin.

Chief Igbinedion, who is also the father of former Governor, Lucky Igbinedion stormed the

Osadebay Avenue State seat of power at exactly 1:05 p.m. in his customized maroon red Rolls Royce phantom Car. The surprise visit may not be unconnected with the protracted crisis that has continued to rock the nine PDP legislators and 15 APC lawmakers over the control of the state legislature in the past two months.

Besides, the lawmaker representing Egor State constituency under the platform of the APC, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu yesterday ruled out any political solution to the lingering crisis rocking the State assembly.

Ohonbamu said the only way out is for the suspended PDP members to obey the State High Court order restraining

them from attending plenary.

Also the suspended Deputy Speaker of the PDP controlled assembly, Chief Festus Ebea has stated that the APC lawmakers played the script prepared for them by the executive when they suspended the four PDP legislators.

Ebea noted that “given the reason adduced for the alleged suspension of the four members in the house, and the fact that the members were not heard or investigated by the appropriate committee of the house, it was clear that Uyi Igbe and

US$13.24bn The total revenue realized from arms sales of Finmeccanica, Italy in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Aliyu weeps for education Dan Atori MINNA

iger state Governor NAliyu Dr Muazu Babangida yesterday decried

the limited spaces available for Nigerian children to pursue higher education in the country, saying that there is need for the private sector and professional bodies to establish Universities and Polytechnics in different parts of the country.

Aliyu who stated this in Minna when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) led by the National Vice President of the organization Mrs. Margaret Oguntala at Government house Minna said 1.7 million Nigerian children pass out from the secondary schools across the country every year and seek admission for higher education but less than 450,000 eventually get

placement in Universities and Polytechnic.

The situation he said has created a deficit of over One million which can be blamed on the high rate of youth restiveness and unemployment that has attained an alarming rate in the country.

He therefore challenged the NSE to establish a Polytechnic or University to address the admission space shortage facing the country. "Nigeria lacks enough engineers. We need our children in schools especially professional schools", he said.

He also said that the era of student pursuing courses in liberal arts had passed advising that for Nigeria to achieve scientific breakthrough and join the highly developed countries of the world students should take interest in science related and professional courses.

Trouble brews in Anambra as community disowns its monarch imminent communal Auejenclash is brewing in Umcommunity in Ayam-

elum Local Government Area of Anambra State following the demand of a faction of the community to dethrone the traditional ruler of the Town, Igwe Elias Nneli (aka Igwe Talunchala) The agitators had protested to the Government House of Anambra State sometimes in June, asking the Governor to withdraw the certificate of recognition issued to the traditional ruler whom they alleged has been a cog in the wheel of progress in the town since he ascended the throne 37 years ago.

The aggrieved faction numbering about three hundred yesterday besieged the Local Government Headquarters Ana-

ku with the same request to the chairman of the Local Government Mr. Paul Obiora. In a petition endorsed by the eldest members of the four clan that make up Umueje Community, the secretary, and Deputy Chairman of the town union, presented to the Chairman, titled: Demand for withdrawal of recognition and removal of Igwe Elias Uyamadu Nweli as the traditional ruler of Umueje Community, reads in parts: “We the undersigned, for ourselves and on behalf of the law abiding people of Umueje town in Anyamelum Local Government Anambra State, hereby request the withdrawal of recognition of Igwe Elias Uyamadu Nneli as the traditional ruler of our community.”

Philip Shaibu hurriedly read a script written by the executive and in the process, threw caution, due process and law to the wind".

The popular business magnate was obviously absent at the PDP National Chairman’s tour of the South-South which train berthed in Calabar, Cross River State yesterday.

He spent about 35 minutes behind closed doors with Governor Oshiomhole.

Chief Igbinedion later told reporters after they were invited in that: “He (Oshiomhole) is the governor of Edo State and I

have come to see my governor”.

He thanked Governor Oshiomhole for receiving him and his entourage to his office.

Governor Oshiomhole congratulated the PDP Chieftain on his forthcoming birthday.

He said: “Let me welcome you formally to my very modest office, thank you for taking time out to visit. I am in receipt of your birthday invitation. I promise you that I will be there live with our friends. It is something that we want to join in celebrating because longevity and good

health are a rare combination”.

“Some people have longevity, but poor health, others have good health but not long life, so when God gives you both, only He and He alone decides whom he chooses to so favour. We pray that the birthday activities will come without any incident and God will preside over the entire affairs”.

Ebea argued that the so-called suspension was in, "gross violation and mockery of the House Rules and even the grund norm, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria".

4.52m

0.3

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Malaysia in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

The average number of expulsions (red cards) per match at South Africa 2010 World cup.

Source: Fifa.com

L-R: Convener, Technical, Vocational and Education Training, Sub-Committee, SUREP, Mr. Peter Esele; Chairman, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd) and Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Omotanwa Olusi, during a press conference on the activities of the agency in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

LASU graduates 9, 169 students, as SSANU disrupts ceremony Kayode Olanrewaju

T

he 19th convocation ceremony of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos for the award of First Degrees, was yesterday disrupted by the Senior Staff Union of Nigeria University (SSANU) protesting non-payment of their salaries.

The aggrieved members of the union stormed the university new auditorium, venue of the event, carrying placards of various inscriptions – LASU VC Pay our salaries (June and July), and singing abusive songs.

The union, led by its Chairman, Mr. Saheed Oseni also barricaded the road with their bus with registration Lagos CC 873 AGL, obstructing vehicular movement on the campus, in which parents and guardians who had come to celebrate their children and wards’ graduation were stranded for few hours before the bus was removed.

Angered by the situ-

ation, some of the parents described the Union action as immature, ill-advised and an embarrassment to the entire university and Lagos State.

They said: “Why are they behaving as if they are not workers of the University? Nobody is saying it is good for the management or the government should owe them their salaries, but they should have allowed the ceremony to hold without this kind of show of shame.

Look at us stranded on campus. No one is saying they should not protest but not when visitors from all over the country are here. They should realize that we are visitors of the University, which they are part of, and not that of the Vice-Chancellor alone.

The Union got it wrong.”

The ceremony, which kicked off by 10am, as scheduled witnessed the graduation of 9,169 students, who received their scrolls for first degrees and Diploma.

While addressing the University management,

represented by the Registrar, Mr. Lewis Oladapo, the Union vowed to continue its protest today.

The Chairman, who spoke of plans by the management to order his arrest, told members of the Union to dress in black attires as they dressed yesterday to the campus today for a massive protest.

Oseni said: “What happened (protest) today is a tip of the ice berg. Some people have been chasing me around to arrest me.

Between today and tomorrow (today) if one month salary is not paid, we will continue with the protest.

We are not going to be intimidated, because what we are doing is our legitimate right. Our protest is legal and nobody can deny us our salary.”

While appealing to the Union members to sheathe their sword and allow peace to reign in the institution, which already had a battered image, the Registrar, who said the management is looking seriously at their

demand, said every stakeholder should be involved in giving the University good image.

“Your action will definitely have consequences on the image of the University. We need to jointly build the image of LASU. If the salary is paid today what of the image that has already been battered? We can still find a mid-way of resolving the issue”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Union had last Friday suspended the strike embarked upon two months ago, having reached an agreement with the University management on how to pay the outstanding two months’ salary for June and July.

But the Union last Wednesday disrupted the pre-convocation press conference by locking the Senate Chamber, venue of the briefing and other sensitive offices. Following the Union’s action, the brief, which was supposed to had at 10 am, did not hold until 1.45pm at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office.

‘Aregbesola will defeat Omisore by landslide’ / PAGE 16 | It’ll be massive victory for PDP, says Salam /PAGE 17

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THURSday, August 7, 2014

13

How sharing mentality held conference to ransom –Okoye

p-14

My agenda to govern Benue, by Ortom Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom and a governorship aspirant in Benue State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke with journalists in Makurdi, Benue State where he declared his aspiration to govern the state.

CEPHAS IORHEMEN was there and brings the excerpts: Fear of God my guiding principle I want to say that I’m not just interested in the governorship by coming out to seek for bread and butter. I’m really committed to give service to Benue State and to bring my experience to bear on the social, economic and political development of the state. Having served at the local government, state and at the federal levels, and having acquired enough experience I know that as governor of Benue State, I will add value to the development of the state.

If given this opportunity I will serve and lead with the fear of God. The fear of God, as the Bible says, will give me wisdom and by extension I’ll serve the state with wisdom because the Bible says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Where we are today in Nigeria, where we are in Benue State we need divine guidance, we need the wisdom of God to be able to cope with the challenges that are confronting us. The fear of God will translate to truthfulness, equity, fairness, justice, humility, selflessness, accountability, reconciliation, goodwill, peace, and above all unity. If we have these in place I believe that together we can move Benue State ahead.

Adding value to all sectors As Governor I’ll appreciate our past leaders especially the present governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, who came with a lot of zeal and despite the challenges, despite the antagonism, despite the distraction, he’s been able to bring development to bear on the state.

Ortom

As governor I’ll add value to all sectors of the economy taking over from where ever the present governor stops. I’ll continue from there because government is a continuous process. I’ll also seek to improve on all sectors of the economy. Moving forward and having had the experience at the local, state and federal levels, I’m quite familiar with the terrain and I know the challenges that we’re facing today as a country and as a state.

Unemployment, the most notorious challenge I know that there are many challenges but the most notori-

ous one is the issue of unemployment. As we’re sitting here some of you are also affected.

It’s either you’ve labored to train your brother or sister or your own children. Today they’ve graduated but they’re still depending on you. You go out on the streets and you’ll find a number of graduates that are in the labour market. Of course it’s also said that the idle mind is the devil’s workshop. I believe that other challenges that we’re facing today like security if we were able to curb the issue of unemployment in the society we would have succeeded in reducing the security challeng-

es that we are facing today in Benue and in Nigeria.

Having also had the opportunity of working for the last three years as Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, and looking at the challenges we have and having the opportunity of touring the globe especially in America, Europe and Asia I’ve seen what is happening. For instance, China with a population of over a billion people is able to contain the issue of unemployment to a large extent. We need to learn from the example of China and do something that will add value to our state.

CROSSFIRE There was no multiple voting, no ballot snatching in Ekiti, the military helped the process. That is why the presence will be more...it is my responsibility to secure the people of Osun -Musiliu Obanikoro

The soldiers and state security personnel they’re deploying in Osun are better needed in Sambisa forest, Borno and Yobe States, not for a peaceful state like Osun -Emeka Ngige

Industrialization is panacea to unemployment For me as governor of Benue State I will encourage industrialization that will add value to our primary products. It is said that any society, any state, any country, that depends on exporting its primary products is as well exporting jobs, exporting wealth, exporting opportunities, is exporting everything that ordinarily would have been utilized to the greatest benefits of its people. As governor of Benue State I’ll ensure that we industrialize the state and identify those areas where we have comparative and competitive advantages and encourage industries in such areas.

God has so blessed us in agriculture, in solid minerals and in several other ways. If we’re able to exploit these areas we’ll go a long way in helping our society.

When we industrialize we shall be providing several opportunities to our people. We have seen that worldwide it is no longer a viable option for government to continue to thrive in the business of industries or commercial ventures because government is not able to do well in these areas and it cannot be encouraged to continue because it will be a waste. Our program will be to ensure that we encourage the private sector.

We will encourage private corporate organizations, we’ll encourage private individuals, and we’ll encourage people with the will, with determination and creativity to go into processing industries so that we can add value on our primary products. Government will facilitate, government will create the enabling environment, and government will support the private sector. For some of you sitting here my intention is that while you’re doing your professional practice you’ll also have another opportunity of venturing into something that can provide extra resources for you to be able to cope with life. It will also provide opportunities for other people who are coming behind us to also be employed. I believe that if we do this it will go a long way in helping us.

Attraction of investment into the state To follow up on this we shall ensure that we go outside of the state, outside of this country and source for investment to come into our state. I believe that we will be able to do that.

A lot of countries, a lot of individuals and corporate organizaCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

14 POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW What were your expectations at the beginning of this conference?

My first expectation was on some of those issues that have been put in the closet; that have been bothering the people of this country, that they will be put on the table and that people will be free to discuss them and that those who do not have voice in the Nigerian federation would have a voice here to discuss their problems and challenges. Secondly, my expectation was that for too long Nigerians have been going through what I call a crisis of imagination. At all times, we engage in episodic and ad hoc measures to resolve our challenges; at other times, we live in denial.

This conference, for me, was to provide a template to look at Nigeria of today, Nigeria of tomorrow and Nigeria of the future. I also expected that the conference would enable us put measures and templates that would help us address the challenges of today, tomorrow and the future. That expectation for me has been met.

In the course of the conference, there were all sorts of issues emanating from people not understanding each other; people not talking to each other and people not knowing the problems of the other persons. I think that to a large extent, we have been able to understand ourselves better. The only problem we have now is that when it comes to building the nation, when it comes to putting in measures on how we can generate wealth, we don’t have a problem with that, but when it comes to sharing revenue and resources, the elites are always in crisis. So the small challenge we have has to do with lack of consensus among the elite in relation to sharing. But I believe that we have achieved so much.

Nigerians at home would want to know in specific terms those major things that you think this conference has achieved.

What are they?

Look, we had twenty committees in relation to this particular conference and each committee produced a report that we voted on. In relation to the Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters, we made very fundamental recommendations. One of them is that all elections in relation to the local government councils will be handled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and we scrapped the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs)- that is a huge recommendation. Two, there was also another recommendation relating to the local governments where we agreed to guarantee a specific tenure of three years in the constitution for all local governments throughout the federation.

Three, local governments have also been removed from the jurisdiction of the Federal Government and transferred to the suzerain of the state governments. Again this is a huge recommendation.

On the issue of derivation, we have also agreed in principle that the issue of environmental devastation is a big problem in Nigeria and that there must be a special intervention to deal with the issue. The question now is what percentage of increase should we have as derivation on mineral resources?

We also have this high level of insurgency in the North East especially in places like Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. We are saying that we should have a special intervention, rehabilitation and stabilization fund for those areas. In principle, we have agreed on that but the argument is whether the money should come from the Federal Government’s allocation or the federation account.

In all, we had committees on almost every sector including energy, agriculture, environment, land tenure and so forth. For me, we have done so well and that is why those of us who are not part of thus sharing they are talking about are not happy that the report of one committee will be used to hold us to ransom, because some elites who created part of the challenges of this country have refused to shift grounds on a very small

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

How sharing mentality held conference to ransom –Okoye Festus Okoye is a constitutional lawyer and delegate representing civil society organisations at the ongoing national conference. Okoye served in the Committee on Political Matters and Electoral Matters. In this interview with ONWUKA NZESHI, he puts up a strong defence for the post-crisis intervention fund but expressed disappointment at how the elite frustrated it; because they wanted it to be a slush fund to be shared. Excerpts

Okoye

thing that will move the country forward.

If the argument is in relation to how these monies would be channeled to the benefit of the ordinary citizens of Nigeria, I won’t have a problem with their hard-line posture. But it has become obvious that their disagreement is because some of them want to appropriate those monies to themselves. Some of them believe that when those monies come, they will treat them the way they have been treating Ecological Funds and other such monies that they have turned to slush funds.

As a lawyer, don’t you see some contradictions between the removal of the local governments from the suzerain of the Federal Government and the recommendation that INEC, a federal body would now conduct local government elections?

There is no contradiction. Every nation adapts to federalism based on its own culture, values, experiences and challenges confronting the country. For the Nigerian people, there are certain things that up till today, whether true federalism or not, they are not ready to leave with the state governments and the conduct of local government elections is one of those issues. They have seen the performance of the State Independent Electoral Commissions over the years and they are not happy.

You will recall that since we returned to civil democratic rule in 1999, it was only in 2014 that Anambra State conducted its first local government election. You will also recall that Borno State has conducted only two local government elections since we returned to civil

democratic rule. You will also know that no matter the political party the states belonged to, most of the local governments are run by caretaker committees that are undemocratic. This has nothing to do with the application of what is contained in Section 7 of the constitution which states very unequivocally that the local government system must be run and administered by democratically elected officials.

So to that extent, the delegates decided that they were not ready to tolerate this violation of the constitution anymore.

I can tell you that our recommendation to domicile local council elections in the hands of INEC and do away with the SIECs is based on experience. There is no contradiction at all. In fact it came up in almost four or five committees and each committee stood its ground and chose what is best for the country.

What is your reaction to the manner in

If the argument is in relation to how these monies would be channeled to the benefit of the ordinary citizens of Nigeria, I won’t have a problem with their hardline posture

which the conference ended its debates on the issue of derivation and resource control?

I think we ended well in the sense that when this conference started we set up twenty committees, we have dealt with the report of nineteen of those committees, the only outstanding report was that of the Committee on Devolution of Power. Now what was the issue? The committee recommended that we should maintain a thirteen percent derivation principle based on some of the issues it tabulated. But some people within the conference felt that if in 2005, a different conference recommended an increase to eighteen per cent that it will not be right, or rational to remain where we were in 2005 up till this moment. This was why the Consensus Committee was set up.

Now the issue here is that there is a general agreement that the thirteen per cent derivation should be increased; there is a general agreement that a fund for the development of solid minerals should be increased and there is also a general agreement that there should be some form of intervention fund for states suffering from the insurgency and terrorism.

The problem now is do we have the technical knowledge and know how to make those interventions? The first is that the issue of derivation is a matter of law and people have come here to canvass that there have been environmental pollution and degradation, people are dying of cancer and so on and so forth.

We at this conference do not have the knowledge and the capacity to agree or disagree with these claims. So the best thing to do is to look for those who have some expertise in that particular area to advice on what should be the quantum of increase and not whether there should be an increase. We have agreed that there should be an increase.

On the issue of the development of solid minerals, there is already an intervention in that particular area. The question now is what should be the level of increase in that intervention? Let the people with the technical knowledge determine where these solid minerals are; determine the type of solid minerals available in each state; determine what it would take to extract some of these solid minerals. Remember that in some of these minerals you have to conduct surveys to locate where they are in the soil. We don’t have that type of knowledge here but if you refer it to a technical committee, the will do a good job.

The third issue is that there is already a Federal Government intervention in the North East and in some other states under some form of insurgency. Now, we don’t know the quantum of that particular intervention. So what the conference has said is let us go back to the government, find out the level of that intervention, find out where the intervention is taking place, find out whether that intervention is adequate, go to the states under this insurgency and find out the type of destruction that has been done and the type of rehabilitation that the people need. When you put these things together under a committee then you can make the necessary recommendation.

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POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 15

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Thursday, August 7, 2014

Osun guber: Ripples over school uniforms Few days to the Osun governorship election, politicians continue to throw brickbats at each other. In one of such instances, the issue of the ownership of Omoluabi Garments industry, responsible for producing the uniforms distributed to students in the state, featured prominently in debates.

ELIJAH SAMUEL reports

A

s part of its educational revolution policy, the Osun State government undertook to supply school uniforms to pupils in schools in the state. This was also done to standardize and make the type of uniform used in the state the same thing. But this policy has generated a lot of controversy. Under the policy according to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, more than 200,000 students have benefitted.

However, many critics in the state have condemned the contracting of the production of the uniforms to a particular firm which they claim belongs to the governor’s wife, Sherifat.

With a few days to the gubernatorial election in the state, the mudslinging continued and the issue generated so much hue and cry across the state as it was raised at different forums by the PDP flag bearer Senator Iyiola Omisore.

This is even as some other opponents of the ruling party aver that the centralized production and sale of the school uniforms is to ensure that parents keep buying from the same source.

Government officials have also tapped into any opportunity to deny any connection between the first lady and the ownership of Sam and Sarah Uniforms, the company that won the contract to supply the uniforms.

According to Governor Arebesola, CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

tions have huge resources but the raw materials, the land, the environment in their countries are not convenient for them to invest. So if you are able to provide an opportunity for people to invest they’ll come. From my experience in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, I know that once government is able to create the enabling environment, is able to guarantee a safe environment for these investors they’ll be willing to come and invest in our land.

Encouragement of commercial activities Another thing will be to encourage commercial activities. Those who cannot set up these industries, those who cannot produce these primary products that can be processed will be encouraged to massively go into commercial activities so that they will be able to market what has been produced. These are measures that I think my government can take to curb unemployment. Like I said, we’ll give attention to all sectors of the economy and we’ll ensure that where ever His Excellency, Governor Gabriel Suswam will stop we’ll continue from there and add value.

Priorities But priority attention will be given to industries, will be given to commercialization, and will be given to issues of investment. I believe that within four years we should be able to do a turn around.

the selection of the contractor followed due process and was thrown open to every qualified contractor to make a presentation. “We began by involving all Nigerians by inviting those who can design uniforms and who were judged by a team of bureaucrats – officers from the Ministry of Education in addition to two people from Muslim and Christian groups. They short-listed the number for the Exco who decided the uniforms for the various schools, elementary and high schools”.

He also stated that it was part of a process to boost the economy of the state. “The idea is to use the uniform to boost the economy of the state. Out of those short-listed, Sam and Sarah got the contract. It is a garment company along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. We gave the owner of the company a condition that if we would part with N900 million for you to make uniform, it would be for her to site a garment factory in Osun. With that, we got the biggest garment factory in Osun that today employs about 3,000 people”.

Also, the pervasive rumour linking Mrs. Aregbesola with the ownership of Omoluabi Garment was dispelled by the management of Sam and Sara Uniforms.

Expressing great displeasure over the news making round that its subsidiary company, Omoluabi Garment is fronting for the first lady, the CEO of Sam and Sara Uniforms, Mrs. Folake Oyemade described the rumour as not only being malicious, but also a damaging falsehood capable of misinforming the public and the good people of the state.

The state placed an advert for the contract, we bided and won it. The company is the most capable among all the bidders, with the biggest factory and the lowest prices

At a recent press briefing in Lagos, she disclosed how her company bided and won the handling of standardization of school uniform in the state. “Sam and Sara, bided for the contract to outfit the school children in the state when the government decided to standardize their school uniforms as it is being done in advanced countries.

“The state placed an advert for the contract, we bided and won it. The company is the most capable among all the bidders, with the biggest factory and the lowest prices.

“After winning the contract, the government insisted that the company set up a factory in the state so as to make the indigenes the sole beneficiaries of the project.

Oyemade revealed how she got funding for the construction of the company’s structure on the land which was allocated to her by the state government.

“We had to approach the Bank of Industry to borrow so much money. The loan was collaterised by my own property. These are verifiable facts.

So, all these lies that Omoluabi factory belongs to the first lady is plain falsehood. Will I borrow so much money on behalf of the First Lady? Will I also put my personal property on the line for the first lady or anybody for that matter? The Bank of Industry is there to prove me wrong if I lie.

She stated further that the input of the state government was only to give land, and that the name Omoluabi came up because of that. “That is the state’s only equity in the business. So the government only helped provide an enabling environment for industrialization of the state,” Oyemade revealed.

She went ahead to list the accruing benefits of establishing such an outfit in the state.

“Through this project, the government has been able to empower a lot of women who sell our Oyemade

uniform on retail, and youths who work in our factory. When we won the bid, we brought about 500 youths to our factory in Lagos for training; we got expatriates from China to train them on how to use modern equipment for garment making.

The training alone costs us enormous amount of money.

“At present, our factory has provided jobs for about 3000 youths in the state.

Must we then suffer because some people are desperate to seize power in the state?

We want to ask politicians to leave Sam and Sara and Omoluabi out of Osun politics.

“We built this company from the scratch for more than 20 years through the help of God. I have created jobs for more than 3000 youths on the street. I am pained by these lies. If anybody is in doubt, such person should ask us for further clarification. And if the peddlers of this rumour are the types that aspire to the leadership office in Nigeria, then I am sorry for this nation.”

My agenda to govern Benue This is a field in which I’m quite familiar. It is no longer news to you that the enterprises I had put in place are today generating more than 400 jobs for Nigerians in Benue State. Those people could have been on the streets of this state but we have taken them off the streets and you can imagine the multiplier effect of what we have done.

You can imagine if we had one thousand people in Benue State who are able to do something similar or to even generate just two hundred jobs and when you multiply that you can imagine the number of people that would have been taken off the streets. I believe that together we can make it.

The people have given me go-ahead I had the inspiration to do consultations round the state and I visited all the zones in the state and consulted with the people and they were unanimous that they need someone like me at this particular time.

I know that the general misconception that people have about politicians is that they are all liars. By the grace of God we’re going to turn around that because I believe that politicians especially leaders should not be given to lying. They should rule with the fear of God and that should

translate to truthfulness as I said. I shall always stand by the truth and the Bible says you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. I’ve consulted and the people have given me go-ahead.

I want to assure you that it is well. The people have given me the nod.

Zoning and adoption by traditional rulers When the Tiv people came together and said in their wisdom that the governorship should come to Minda and four people should be adopted one from each of the local governments in Minda, in my local government I was adopted to go ahead.

Power belongs to God To me it is not a matter of life or death because I know that as a Christian I believe that power belongs to God. John 3: 27 says a man can receive nothing except it is given to him from above. Psalm 62 verse 11 says God has spoken, twice did I hear that power belongs to God. If you go to I Samuel 2 from verse five to nine it talks about the power and the sovereignty of the Almighty God. God can raise one up, He can pull another down, God can kill, and God can give life. God can raise someone from the dust, like me, God raised me as a drop out in form

two, God raised me as a motor park tout, that is raising one from the dust to where I am today.

I like verse nine of that scripture which states that by strength shall no one prevail. I equally know Ecclesiastes 9: 11 that the battle is not for the swift nor for the strong nor the race for the fastest runner nor success for men of wisdom but victory belongs to God and he giveth it. I’m a living testimony of what God can do and I believe that it is only He that has the ultimate power although he passes through people. I know these things that is why I have told all those who are supporting me to never in the course of seeking for support for me, to fight, to make trouble or to quarrel or to be against any other person because at the end of the day God will decide who will take over from Governor Suswam.

I want to thank you for coming and I want to say that as your member if you make me governor we shall work together and by the grace of God I shall seek to improve, not just adding value to all sectors of the economy like I’ve said, but I’ll also seek that we’ll take this our profession to a level that is better than where we are. I want to seek for your continuous prayers for me that God would see me to end of this journey.

16 POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW Dr. Oluwole Alabi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State is an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Consultant and Chairman of Oranmiyan Foundation. In this interview with WALE ELEGBEDE, the symbol of Itesiwaju Movement, a grassroots campaign organisation for the re-election bid of Governor Rauf Aregbesola gave reasons APC will win the election with a wide margin. Excerpts: What do you consider as the major selling points of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the governorship election?

Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s achievements speak volumes, and they are monumental too. Firstly, his social engineering project, the ‘Omoluabi’ toga we are all wearing means a lot to the citizens of our state. The infrastructural development is also legendary, even the blind can see it. The massive road construction with effective drainage, hospital renovation, aesthetic environment, just name it. The Freedom Park that is now the toast of opposition parties used to be a slum which previous governments had neglected. The Ayegbaju modern market that has just been commissioned is equipped with modern facilities including firefighting services, fuel station, and hotel accommodation, among others.

All over the state, there are beautiful and inviting mega schools with all educational aides. It’s not all about bricks and mortals, his desire to reduce unemployment rate is exemplified by employing 20,000 youths who were hitherto unengaged, in the first 100 days in office. Many of them have been absorbed into civil service while many more have acquired vocational skills that they are now self-reliant. A new set of 20,000 cadets have been recruited.

The annual flooding havoc that used to befall our cities during raining season is now a thing of the past. On education, he reclassified the educational system based on best advice. The school pupils feeding policy is going to commence in the UK come September this year. The tablet of knowledge has been an innovative ‘aide memoir’ for our students. So his achievements are legendary. All these have put him in good stead for reelection. And I must tell you sincerely that having grown up to maturity in this country and having travelled widely especially within the last 15 years or thereabout, I can tell you sincerely that if these achievements are allowed to yield results, Osun will definitely become an Eldorado.

Don’t you think the religious sentiment that CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 4

But if you just sit down here and allocate percentages to these items without technical inputs, it does not make sense and you cannot really defend it.

What is your view on what should happen to the final report of the conference?

What should happen is very clear. By the National Conference Rules of Procedure 2014, Order 13 is very clear on what we should do with our report. It says that: Should the final report of the conference lead to issues of drafting of laws and policies, the conference shall in consultation with the six principal officers of the conference, advise the government on the legal frame work, legal procedures and options for integrating

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Aregbesola will defeat Omisore by landslide, says Alabi was echoed at a point during Aregbesola’s first term might have a negative impact on his re-election?

This so called religious crisis was instigated by the main opposition party. Ogbeni is a practicing Muslim and I don’t think he will apologise for being one. Having said that, I think there is hardly any other governor who respects other religious faiths as he does. How can you accuse someone who recognises all faiths in every state function of Islamic fundamentalism? I know of Ogbeni’s sibling who is a pastor and they relate very well. So if he could not impose his religious belief on his immediate family, how would he then contemplate same on the entire state?

It is a fallacy and an excuse to foment trouble. The electorate in the state have seen beyond the facade of their political game. So let’s be factual about this, the religion game card cannot in anyway work here. The people have seen light and they are happy with him.

Your party, the APC has cried foul over the militarisation of the state ahead of the election this weekend. Do you agree with the PDP that it was the voice of a drowning man looking for something to grab?

If you visit the state of Osun now, you will agree with the APC on the heavy militarisation of the state. A few days ago, a convoy of about 50 vehicles bearing mobile policemen was seen around Oke-Fia, Osogbo shooting sporadically into the air. For each gunshot, people responded by shouting; “APC,” “Aregbe ni o.” So our people are not scared of them.

We have educated them that they are there to curb commotion not to cause it.

As long as they stay away from anything that can cause security infringement, nobody can harass or intimidate them.

But we must also add that the people are very much prepared not to have their rights trampled upon. They are ready to vote and protect their votes, so let nobody hide under any form of security service to perpetrate evil. We will fight it.

The PDP has alleged that your party has perfected plans for massive rigging ahead of the election. What is your take?

That is arrant nonsense. The PDP is the party known for rigging. It is their stock in trade. If they have any solid evidence, let them come out with it. They are only preparing the ground for their excuse when they lose gallantly on Saturday. Their failure will be without remedy because it is so clear that our people have rejected them. Each day that passes, we welcome their members into our party because they know very well their candidate cannot march the symbol of the revolutions currently enveloping our state.

Do you see a replay of what happened in Ekiti State occurring this weekend?

I hope not. The Ekiti election has been

Alabi

With his achievements and the field work we have done, Ogbeni is going to breast the tape.

Aregbesola will win convincingly and there is nothing they (the opposition) are going to do about it over analysed. We have tried to block all the loopholes and we have devised antidotes for all the scientific rigging that occurred in Ekiti. We are also second guessing other methods they may adopt to rig the election. Our people have been educated on how to cast their votes so it can be counted. They have been educated on how to take documentary evidence of their balloting. Bye and large, it would be difficult for them to rig this election. We are not going to be complacent though.

How mobilised are the people of Osun for this election?

The mobilization has been tremendous and I think everyone could see that anywhere we go for campaign. It has been very well. People are eagerly waiting for the D day to re-elect Ogbeni for continuity. You see, Lagos is working now because they have witnessed almost 16 years of progressive governance. That is what we are yearning for in Osun and that is what we are going to get.

To what extent do you think Aregbesola’s victory is guaranteed for the poll?

Nothing is guaranteed until the election results are released. But we are sufficiently confident that, with his achievements and the field work we have done, Ogbeni is going to breast the tape. Aregbesola will win convincingly and there is nothing they (the opposition) are going to do about it. Even the toddlers, who are old enough to say BABA, now sing Aregbe’s name. He is well loved, even beyond the party line. We only appeal to all stakeholders to ensure that the election is free, fair and peaceful as we have pledged as ‘Omoluabi’ to be peaceful in our conduct.

‘How sharing mentality held conference to ransom’ the decisions and outcomes of the national conference into the constitution and the laws of the country.

So, Order 13(1) recognizes that there is an existing constitution in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also recognizes the fact that there are existing laws. Therefore what we should do is to segregate the decisions arrived at by each committee into compartments, such that decisions that are administrative in nature should be set aside and then we find out whether those decisions are to be implemented by the federal, state or local governments.

These ones will be forwarded to the

appropriate tier of government for implementation.

On the other hand, decisions that have something to do with policy, should also be segregated while decisions that will lead to the amendment of other laws like the Police Act, Insurance Act and so on should also be segregated to be forwarded to the government and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for them to initiate the necessary legislations.

Now the decisions that will lead to the amendment of the constitution should also be forwarded to the President. My position is that as at today, we don’t have

a law in relation to referendum but if there are some weighty issues arising from this particular conference we can advise the government to encourage the National Assembly to amend the constitution to make a provision for referendum and then two or three issues arising from this conference can be subjected to a referendum.

You cannot carry the decisions of this conference as one document and subject everything to a referendum. If you do that, what it means is that once the referendum fails, everything fails and that will not be in the interest of the people of this country.

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 17

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Thursday, August 7, 2014

Bamidele Salam is Head of Media in the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and a former chairman of Egbedore Local Government of Osun State. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he spoke on Saturday’s governorship election in the state and other national issues There have been allegations and counter allegations by the PDP and APC ahead of the Osun state governorship election, does this suggest that the elections may be contentious?

Elections all over the world are often contentious. The only problem over here is that most of the issues raised by political parties ahead of elections lack factual basis. For example in the case of Osun, we have heard all manner of allegations from the APC about plans to rig the governorship elections. They even went to court asking that the president be restrained from deploying troops for the election. This appears to me as very mischievous. Historical facts have shown that one of the methods politicians use to subvert the electoral process is massive violence.

This is one reason many decent people run away from politics. More than ten youth corp members were killed by political thugs during the last general election. But from our experience in recent elections in Ondo, Edo and Ekiti states, deployment of soldiers has assisted in keeping thugs and hoodlums away from pooling booths. In 2011 when the then ACN won all elective offices, soldiers were deployed so if they do not intend to perpetrate violence now, there should be no cry about that. I expect all stakeholders to rather cooperate with the electoral body and security personnel to ensure a hitch free poll on Saturday.

The two major political parties have been pulling large crowd in their political rallies; does this suggest a very tight race?

Definitely not. We politicians know ourselves. The crowd you see at PDP rallies, unlike those in APC, are registered voters in localities where campaigns were held. We did not allow people even from neighbouring local governments to attend rallies in other local governments. So that is the crowd you can reckon with as a determinant factor on Election Day. I was amused each time I saw hundreds of busses moving people from one senatorial district to another during APC rallies so they ended up addressing the same crowd all over! That is self deception.

The only rally of the PDP that brought people together from different zones was the grand finale addressed by Mr. President last Saturday and the whole crowd you saw there are people from Osun.

When the APC held its own, there were hundreds of busses with Lagos State colours ferrying people to the state.

Will these people vote on Election Day? Definitely not. This election will not be a close call at all. It will be a massive victory for the PDP. You appear so confident. Have you considered that it is a contest against an incumbent?

With due respect, this incumbent is a failure. Look, when Aregbesola came in 2010, some of us thought that his supposedly Marxist background would give us a masses friendly government who will set a new standard in public service.

Sadly, the exact opposite is the case. He has inflicted the most vicious pain on the masses of Osun state. Talk to the traders, artisans, teachers, public servants

Osun: It’ll be massive victory for PDP, says Salam Even if you desire to help your mentors’ business interest, must you use the location of Fakunle Comprehensive High school? I personally felt disappointed that there was no one in that government that could counsel against that policy.

Now let’s talk about the 2015 general elections, are there indications that the president is committed to a free and fair polls?

Definitely yes. All things point to the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan is not a desperate politician. He has demonstrated this in several ways in the last four years. First he appointed a man he had never met as head of the electoral body and gave him total independence.

He has declared on several occasions that the purpose of holding office is public service and so his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. The president is an advocate of one man, one vote. He is usually the first to congratulate winners of elections even when his party loses in such elections.

The various international monitoring agencies have published reports which show that elections held under the Jonathan presidency conforms substantially to international standards. The next general elections will even be better than all we have had.

Salami

The crowd you see at PDP rallies, unlike those in APC, are registered voters in localities where campaigns were held...

This election will not be a close call at all. It will be a massive victory for the PDP and pensioners in the state and all you hear are tales of agony, denials of rights, destruction of means of livelihood without compensation, breach of trusts and dashed hopes.

These are too general. Do you have specific examples?

Thank you. Let’s start from education.

You promised to make school uniforms free. You gave pupils the first set and insisted that they must buy subsequent ones from a single vendor at a cost that is five hundred percent above what these poor parents used in kitting their kids.

You took bulldozers to schools buildings constructed by your predecessor on the pretext that you were going to build new modern ones. Three years down the line, pupils are crammed in classrooms without the new ones. In my own local government of Egbedore, no single block of classroom has been constructed in four years.

Same thing in most other areas yet you merged schools, forcing pupils to travel ten to twenty kilometres to get to schools.

You promised to increase bursaries and students gave you very loud ovation.

Three years after, you refuse to implement. He promised in April 2011 that the Osogbo-Iwo road would be dualised, go there now and see the state of that road. Rather than do that, he embarked on federal roads which have not reached even ten per cent completion now. The economic well being of the average person in Osun sate today is worse than it was four years ago as a result of the anti people policies of this administration.

Governor Aregbesola has destroyed

the Local Government system. I was in a community called Agaa in Iddo Osun a few days ago. One of the transformers our government installed in 2008 had a fault and the local government hasn’t been able to fix it. That part of the community has been in darkness for four months. I can’t blame the local authorities because the state government sits on their statutory allocation and gives them paltry sums quarterly. Go to any local government today in Osun state, you will think you are in a graveyard! And this is the government of first recourse for the rural folks.

So how exactly does your party hope to make a difference if elected?

The party has launched a party manifesto which the candidate Senator iyiola Omisore will clinically implement. It is an agenda of restoration. It is a programme to restore the dignity of the people of Osun state and get the state moving again. The new government which will be coming into office by the grace of God in November will create jobs for our teeming youths using the ICT as a tool of genuine empowerment.

It will not ask graduates to be sweeping streets for a pittance which is not even being paid as at when due. We will reform the school system and abolish the present rudderless policy. Education is not a state commercial venture. It is a tool for socio cultural and economic empowerment. We will assist farmers to access low interest loans and empower them with improved seedlings and mechanisation. Otunba Omisore is a certified engineer with specialty in public-private partnership and so he is in a position to attract investors into the agric and manufacturing sector as the surest means of job creation and development. The PDP will restore the functionality of the local government system and allow those saddled with responsibilities at that level of government to properly function.

Is there any legacy of the present government which you may want to retain?

Like what? The Aregbesola government is actually a waste of legacies. I am sure you are aware that a public school which had existed for about five decades was demolished to give way to a private business concern. Now, that to me is the height of impunity and insensitivity.

There are concerns in some quarters that the president needs not run in the election if it will be credible. What is your take on this?

The President has a constitutional right to seek a second term in office. He must not be arm twisted or blackmailed out of exercising that right. The decision of whether he runs or not is his, and that of the PDP. The decision on whether he wins or not is that of the electorate. Perhaps those who canvass the view that he should not run are afraid that they stand no chance against him. There is no sense in asking a man not to stand an election when he has no legal barriers.

So if the President decides to run for a second term, what will be his major campaign sell?

There are quite a number of milestones which the Jonathan presidency has recorded in the last three and a half years which discerning voters will consider to give the president a second term in office. Look at the unprecedented achievement in the Agricultural sector. The huge annual food import bills of over a trillion naira which has been reduced to by half. The rapid growth in local rice production from less than 200 thousand metric tonnes to 1.76 million metric tonnes, restoration of cotton plantation after thirty years of neglect, the ambitious sugar master plan which has attracted a 480 billion Naira worth of investment as well as making Nigeria reattain its place as the highest producer of cassava in the world.

The Jonathan Presidency successfully moved the Nigerian power sector away from the grossly inefficient and corrupt state monopoly to a private sector, competitive one. Today investors are bringing in over 10 billion dollars into the generation and distribution sectors of the industry. This was the route taken by countries which now enjoy uninterrupted power supply which Nigeria found hard to do before now. 10 NIPP projects have been completed while new power projects are ongoing in Niger, Delta, Yobe, Enugu, Benue, Gombe , Taraba, Kano and some other states.

The railway system which was virtually dead has been resuscitated. Nigeria has definitely recorded major milestones in all key sectors under the Jonathan administration and this will count a lot during the elections campaign.

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POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

‘PDP money can’t buy Osun people’s votes’ You have been around for a while in Osun politics, and people here know that you are a progressive, what will you say qualifies you as a progressive?

The first thing I will like to say is that you said I have been around for a while, but I will tell you that I have been around all the time since Osun state was created. Before the creation of Osun state, I was a local government chairman in the then Oyo state, it was after that Osun was created and I have been part of politics since then. I also made significant impact in the creation of the state and I contested the governorship of the newly created state in 1991with Isiaka Adeleke, so it is not that I have been around for a while but I have been around all the while.

You are also asking what the impetuses of a progressive are, I have seen all the governments that ran through the state, you will see that when progressive minds come into governance, they believe the essence of government is doing good for the masses. Nobody has exhibited this trait in the history of Osun than Rauf Aregbesola.

So you believe Aregbesola has lived up to the impetuses of a progressive with the way he is governing the state?

He has done a lot for the state and has been able to lift the state higher in terms of development among the committee of states in Nigeria, his programmes have touched the lives of the people of the state in so many areas, the first programme he did looks small to some people, but to me that is the greatest achievement of this administration, changing the concept of our state to that of “omoluabi”. This is not physical but germane to the mind and being. There is a great difference between being a virtuous person and a bastard, that’s one core value that every human being should have, attribute of being responsible, good is what that concept has brought to Osun, it looks minute but great in the concept of growth.

Let’s go on from there, it is very bad for a human being to wake up in the morning and finds nothing to do, that will change him from a complete human being, so what he did in his 100days in office was to create engagement for twenty thousand youths, if you wake up in the morning and sit down without having any where to go, you are no more a being, you will hate yourself. Twenty thousand had been saved from such situation, I have seen some nation in a bid to try to engage youth, absorbed them, put them on a job that they don’t even need, after they finish that job line, they destroy it, I am not saying we should do the same thing.

What we have here is justifiable, in our own case the streets are now clean which is alien to our culture, these people were taught for three weeks on the dignity of labour. The ten thousand Naira they get may look small, but you will see that with that, about 200 million Naira is pumped monthly into the economy of the state, it is not an amount that can go to other states, if somebody is getting an allowance of ten thousand all he does with such money is to take care of his immediate needs not one with which he can travel out of the state with.

Parents for the first time were relieved of the burden of seeing the child they have trained over a period of time sitting at home doing nothing productive, which is an achievement on his own. He also came up with Osun rural entrepreneurial agricultural programmes, lets clear the land and give it to people who are interested in farming, that is an area where we have comparative advantage so that we can also be the food basket for this part of the country.

We have reform in the education sector, honestly, I Bayo Salami looking at my

Adebayo Ayoade Salami was elected Senator representing Osun central constituency at the start of the Fourth Republic on the Alliance for Democracy (AD) platform. He was appointed to the committee on Public Accounts, Labour as vice-chairman. In this interview with Chinedu Ekeja he bares his mind on the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola among other sundry issues. Excerpts

Salami

background as a capitalist, I was wondering how a government can continue to feed children in public schools everyday without being a burden on government, but he felt different on it, saying most of these children are from the have-nots and they also have a role to play in the development of the state. He held that they needed the food at that particular age to aid their assimilation, so they now eat balanced diet a day in the school.

He decided to give them free uniform and he transformed the education sector at the higher level by giving them the tablet of knowledge “Opon Imo”, and for the first time in the history of the state, infrastructural development is at the highest, the kind of road that we never imagined came up, roads that can last fifteen to thirty years; and that is the practice world over, if you want to borrow money from banks it must show how lasting such project must be, it must be able to stand the test of time, they don’t expect you to be spending money on maintenance.

So you are in agreement with people who believe the state is in debt to the tune of 350 billion naira?

Look, people who said he has borrowed 350 billion do not know what 350 billion Naira amounts to, one thing is clear, no single entity can borrow more than 150 billion, no single individual, state, corporation or what have you can get more than 150, when you borrow 350 billion Naira and if they give you an interest rate that is at barest minimum it will be 12 per cent, which means you will be paying 3.5 billion in a month, when the allocation to your state is less than

Osun people will take the so called ten thousand naira they have penned down for every voter and will still do the right thing

3 billion Naira and yet you have to pay salary and running cost.

People still capitalize on our ignorance, we can be subsumed by just rumour, and you will wonder that do these people know what they are talking about? I have just told you if you borrow such money and the interest you are going to pay, does that not show you the mischief. You want to make it in life and you don’t want to borrow?, let me tell you something, America is the most indebted country in the world, there is no place people of the world want to get to more than America, how many people are struggling to take a visa to our country and how many people want to get to America? They raise their debt ceiling year after year, so long they can produce that huge infrastructure, and everything is okay with them. Most of our leaders do not have what it takes to govern a nation. In this century and the one coming, it is not the mineral resources inside the soil that makes the difference, but the brain that God has endowed us with that will make the difference, not your oil but how you use your intellect to better the lot of the people.

gotten to, we are no more doing things as it used to be.

You as seasoned politician in this state, are you in tandem with the insinuation that the governor of the state abandoned the local politicians in the constitution of his cabinet and that the cabinet is made up of people from Lagos?

The question you just raised somebody raised it here yester night, for the people he has brought, they are Osun indigenes, some of them may not be necessarily domiciled in Osun as at that time, but for whoever cares to listen, the standards we have reached in the last three and a half years needs sharp minds. I am not defending him. You need sharp minds for sound ideas, I can tell you that politicians that are based here know the level we have reached, and I believe that by the second term of Aregbesola administration, politicians at home would have moved to the next level. Things are no more the same in the state, our teachers are different nowadays, their modes of dressing and work environments have changed. That is the level we have

What are your fears about the coming governorship election in the state?

I Bayo Salami do not have any fear about the election, I am very sure that come August 9, we will win the election with a wide margin, take it from me. We have a state that is heterogeneous not a homogenous one like that of Ekiti. I am not unaware that President Goodluck Jonathan spoke with all the Oba’s in Ekiti on one on one basis before the day of the election, I am not unaware that he will do the same thing in Osun.

But I am aware of the situation in Osun, our Oba’s are not illiterate, they are of sound mind and conviction that they know what is right. At the appropriate time, Osun people will take the so called ten thousand naira they have penned down for every voter and will still do the right thing. This is not a place that you come and preach religious differences; we have been living together as brothers so I am certain that APC will win the election.

If you were to be the governor of the state, will you have constituted a cabinet like Aregbesola did?

Maybe I will not even be that exposed to have those tall dreams that he has, my dreams may still be the dreams that we used to have about doing things, but I have seen the practical solutions to problems through him. Look at the kind of roads he is constructing round the state, we used to construct road too before, but hardly will you go there after six months and you will not blame yourself. He has done all that is humanly possible in the last three and a half years at the expense of his own health.

The good he has done is more than my expectation, that is why I have decided that whatever it takes, he has my endorsement and come August 9, we are going to win, no amount of 50 billion Naira PDP may bring to Omisore campaign account will deter us, money will not buy the conscience of an Osun person with what they have seen in the last three and a half years.

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EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

Developing resource capacity through NYSC

T

he National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) management is working with the National Salaries and Wages Commission (NSWC) to place corps members on a public service salary scale. NYSC boss, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi said that the move would address the frequent agitation for review of corps members’ allowances.

Apparently, previous attempts to secure adjustment in the allowances of corps members at the National Assembly did not yield the desired result. Olawumi maintained that the current N19,800 monthly allowance for a corps member was inadequate in view of current economic realities in the country. He assured that the NYSC was working closely with the Wages Commission to concretize the proposal.

The NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil War. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps by decree No.24 of May 22, 1973, which stated that the “NYSC is being established with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of

national unity”. But, as should be clearly seen, national unity and integration are almost impossible in a poverty-stricken environment.

The point must be made that the National Youth Service Corps was born as a child of necessity, established as part of the reconciliation effort of the government after the most trouble era in Nigeria’s history. That was the initial objective but the present national realities have even made it more imperative. National reconciliation and integration are continuous efforts and process which the agency has been spearheading. Through the NYSC, Nigerian youths are brought together, posted from one part of the country to the other and given the opportunities to offer voluntary and selfless services.

In the 41 years of its existence, NYSC has recorded a massive improvement in different aspects of its operations. In addition, it has contributed immensely to the nation’s socio-economic development efforts. However, in 1993, in a bid to make objectives of the scheme even more relevant to the socio-economic needs of the society, the National Youth Service Corps Decree No.24 was repealed and replaced by Decree 51 of June 16, 1993. The decree recommended the equitable distribution of members of the service corps and the effective utilization of their

skills in areas of national needs.

It also recommended that as far as possible, youths were assigned to jobs in states other than their states of origin; that such group of youths assigned to work together was as representative of Nigeria as far as possible; that the Nigerian youths were exposed to the modes of living of the people in different parts of Nigeria; that the Nigerian youths were encouraged to eschew religious intolerance by accommodating religious differences; that members of the service corps were encouraged to seek, at the end of their one-year national service, career employment all over Nigeria, thus promoting the free movement of labour and that employers were induced partly through their experience with members of the service corps to employ more readily and on a permanent basis, qualified Nigerians, irrespective of their states of origin.

To this end, if corps members are placed on civil service salary, they would live a decent life and even save for the rainy day. We have previously suggested that vocational training and skills acquisition should be introduced into the NYSC programme, with the first seven months reserved for the regular national service while the remaining five months should be used to provide vocational training and skills acquisition in catering

and baking, carpentry, IT development, hair dressing and cosmetology, tailoring, soap making, brick-laying, shoe-making, among others, to corps members.

Therefore, NYSC should be restructured to purge it of corrupt practices in all ramifications. Corps members should not be posted to violence-prone areas under any guise and should not be used as INEC ad hoc staff for elections. Also, postings should not be influenced or changed to suit some people, no matter how highly placed.

Again, instead of just posting corps members to their places of national assignments, NYSC should liaise with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to train graduates in various vocational and entrepreneurial skills and after completing their training, the NYSC can group them and help them get loans from Bank of Industry and other Micro Finance Banks to set up SME’s, in addition to the amount they must have saved. In this way, many a corps member can become employer of labour after service instead of looking endlessly for non-existent jobs.

We believe the NYSC is still very relevant and should be continued but periodically reviewed to meet the challenges of the modern era.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC SULEIMAN UBA GAYA Managing Editor YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday EMEKA OBASI Deputy Editor, Daily LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor TAIWO AHMED Advert Manager UCHEY OKEZIE Ag. Sales/Marketing Manager TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

OPINION

Chibok Girls’ abduction and the politics of Abuja campaigners

Chris Nawuche

T

he hundredth day anniversary of the abduction of over two hundred school girls from Gover nment Secondary School Chibok, brought to the fore the intricate politics in the campaign to rescue the girls. As it were, it became very clear that politics has permeated the entire campaign.

For instance the tone of messages of the two groups that organized rallies at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja, between Monday July 21, 2014 and Wednesday July 23, 2014 showed that there are two strands of messages by the group.

While one group, #Bring Back our Girls headed by former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili is pressing home the message that it is the responsibility of any government to provide security of lives and property to every citizen and extension, to rescue the Chibok girls, the other group, Pray for Our Girls is insisting that it is incumbent on the Boko Haram group to release the girls and that the campaign should also offer an opportunity for Nigerians to become united and speak with one voice to speak against terrorism.

But, there is a unity of purpose among these groups because they are both agitating for the girls to be freed from abduction and be reunited with their various families. It is just that their modus operandi differ. As stated earlier, the proopposition group insists that it is the sole responsibility of government to bring back the girls; the other group argues that it is the responsibility of all but mostly that of the insurgents themselves.

Nonetheless, it often resulted to prayer both by Islamic & Christian adherents among them, calling on God Almighty to intervene and soften the hearts of the insurgents to free the girls.

Be that as it may, it was evident that huge mobilization went on into the organization of the two

We must, therefore, at this moment say kudos to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his effort to bring back the girls as well as to prominent figures like Mrs. Oby Esekwesili and Mrs. Hadiza Bala Usman for their own effort on the other side in attracting global attention to the plight of the girls. We can now look forward to the release of the girls from Sambisa forest or wherever they are held sides of the rally, because it costs money to mobilize people and bring them together from various nooks and crannies of the country and the FCT. Some of those who were in attendance at the rally organized by the Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili and Mrs. Hadiza Bala Usman-led group are prominent members of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) such as Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, a Member, Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Funmi Tejuoso and Mrs. Usman herself. So also was Mr. Femi Aborishade of the National Con-

science Party.

On the other hand, top members of the PDP led by the Minister of State FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide and the Special Adviser to the President on Youth Affairs were present at the other side of the divide to address the other group of women and youth at the rally.

The basic point is that these two groups are interested in the release of the Chibok girls. However, the advice we are giving is that such agitation should be done bearing in mind the overriding national interest which is peace and stability of the system. At a time like this, there is need for unity of purpose; there is also need for increase on the part of the government in power so that the war against terror could be waged to a successful conclusion. That remains the best way to preserve the peace, unity and stability of the democratic process. That, in my mind, is the path of patriotism and nationalism that many Nigerians should encourage.

None of the sides should be ridiculed at the expense of the other. The 100th day anniversary has come and gone but the vital issue is what happens next. It is heartwarming that government has taken measures to improve the armory of the military towards waging a successful battle not only in bringing back the girls but also stamping out terrorism from the borders of Nigeria.

We must, therefore, at this moment say kudos to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his effort to bring back the girls as well as to prominent figures like Mrs. Oby Esekwesili and Mrs. Hadiza Bala Usman for their own effort on the other side in attracting global attention to the plight of the girls. We can now look forward to the release of the girls from Sambisa forest or wherever they are held.

•Chris Nawuche wrote in from Limpopo Street, Maitama District, Abuja.

Godswill Akpabio and the obverse side of success (2) Okon Okorie Continued from yesterday

A

s the 2015 elections beckon, some of the ethnic fault lines Akpabio appeared to have sealed have been opened up by these few chauvinists. Many of them would stop at nothing in an attempt to start ethnic warfare. Under Governor Victor Attah, the state had just three local newspapers. But under Governor Akpabio, it now has over 103 local newspapers (the largest number in Nigeria) involved in institutional blackmail. Yet these same newspapers claim that there is hunger in the land. If there is hunger in the land how come newspapers are springing up like mushrooms? Just a food for thought!

Several things account for the hounding of Akpabio by these chauvinists. One, Akpabio comes from a minority ethnic group - Annang. The more he succeeds in the discharge of his job, the more these pathological ethnic jingoists hate him. They share the same sentiments, which drove the Ku Klux Klan in America to kill innocent successful African Americans in the south simply out of envy. That is the ethnic sword of Damocles Akpabio has contended with ever since he came into office.

Secondly, Akpabio has become a polarizing figure: those who love him love him with all their hearts, and those who hate him hate him with every fibre of their beings and without a reason. The list of projects he has done are endless; the Ibom Stadium, Specialist Hospital, Ibom

The opportunities provided by success are dependent on perspectives. Armed robbers do not operate in rural villages because there is no wealth there. Wealth attracts robbers, entrepreneurs, economists and others. In the same vein, the success of Governor Akpabio is attracting interest in the governorship of the state from the good, the bad and the ugly. To the thieves, Akpabio is crazy to have done all that he has done, instead of sharing the money to friends and keeping some for himself Airport, Ibom Gas Plant, over 320 roads, five flyovers, Ibom E-library, over 4,500 life-impacting rural projects, free and compulsory education from primary to senior secondary school, free medical treatment for pregnant women, babies under the age of five and the aged… the list goes on. So why would anyone hate a man who has done so much? The answer is simple: because there are thieves in the society and some of them are in politics.

The opportunities provided by success are dependent on perspectives. Armed robbers do not operate in rural villages because there is no wealth there. Wealth attracts robbers, entrepreneurs, economists and others. In the same vein, the success of Governor Akpabio is attracting

interest in the governorship of the state from the good, the bad and the ugly. To the thieves, Akpabio is crazy to have done all that he has done, instead of sharing the money to friends and keeping some for himself. They come up with narratives to hide their ill-intentions, “there is poverty in the land,” “Akwa Ibom is a poor society in spite of what it makes as revenue,” “Is it infrastructure we will chop?” etc.

These are exercises in sophistry designed to obfuscate the facts and deny Akpabio credit for what he has done.

Thirdly, some persons are so blinded by ethnic prejudice and bias that they see themselves as soldiers of their ethnic groups engaged in a war against other ethnic groups. Such ethnic jingoists came up with the funny theory that Akwa Ibom is a tripod

made up of Ibibio, Annang and Oron, with the Ibibios as the first son, Annangs second and Oron third. This curious assertion makes no accommodation for the Ekid, Ibeno, Andoni, Ijaw and Itu Mbonuso ethnic groups in the Akwa Ibom project. It fails to recognize that if such thinking were applied to Nigeria, then the country would be said to be a tripod made up of Hausa/Fulanis, Yorubas and Igbos.

Then other ethnic groups (including those in Akwa Ibom) would be permanently excluded from the Nigerian project. As Christians, they fail to apply the golden rule: “do unto others what you will want them to do to you.”

These vocal ethnic jingoists are behind the unceasing and unsparing campaign of calumny against Akpabio. But the reverse side is that majority of Akwa Ibom people are detribalized. You have such respectable Ibibio figures as Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, former governor of the state, Senator Anietie Okon, Sir Val Attah, former permanent secretary, and many others who believe that the path to a greater Akwa Ibom State lies in unity not divisiveness. They believe that justice, equity and fair play are the pillars of true democracy. When Akpabio looks up and sees the ethnic sword of Damocles wielded by the ethnic chauvinists, he should look around and see that the majority of Akwa Ibom people are detribalized and are with him. Let this knowledge comfort him.

Concluded • Mr. Okon Okorie is on the staff of the Institute of Leadership and Public Communication, Uyo.

LAW THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

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21

}p-24 & 25

Akintola, Nwobike, Ananaba differ on CJN’s corruption allegation against SANs

Akintola, SAN

“I

f indeed she made such statement, it is clearly regrettable and inappropriate and very incorrect of her to say that the Senior Advocates of Nigeria are agents of corruption”, one said.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria is the head of the judiciary, which automatically means that before she made such statement she must have been sure of her facts. So, her statement is her opinion according to available evidence before her”, another said.

Although they differ from one another, one fact emerged: Judicial corruption is on the rise in the country.

This was however affirmed recently by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar who accused the nation’s Senior Advocates of Nigeria at an international forum that some of the silk wigs ‘work in tandem’ with judges accused of corruption.

At the forum, she said ‘‘corruption has become a real cankerworm. We receive petitions and we have always tried to hear both sides. But many times, affected judges complain that they are not given a fair hearing. Some will come with as many as six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). Those SANs who go with them are equally guilty”.

But amidst this, lawyers yesterday cautioned the CJN, describing it as regrettable. Although some of them believe that Justice Aloma-Mukhtar was entitled to her opinion, it was a ridiculous statement as there were no limitations to the discharge of their constitutional duty.

Does she mean we should not defend those judges accused of corruption even though the law presumed them innocent until otherwise? If indeed she made such statement, it is clearly regrettable and inappropriate and very incorrect of her to say that the Senior Advocates of Nigeria are agents of corruption”, Dr. Joseph Nwobike said.

Nwobike, a Senior Advocate said that though he doubted the authenticity of the statement credited to the CJN, he defended his colleagues at the Inner Bar that they remain embodiment of excellence, insisting that such statement was not only ridiculous but

Prof. Akanbi

Nwobike, SAN

Should the Senior Advocates of Nigeria be seen as corruption personified because they have, among others, corruption judges as clients? Lawyers say no,yes. FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE, TUNDE OYESINA and APPOLOS CHRISTIAN report bizarre as “agents of corruption are known by those who are also corrupt”.

He went on: “In short, let me believe she didn’t make such statement and even if she did, it must have been on a context that she never meant to say that SANS are agents of corruption.

In a nutshell, my take is that the statement is unfortunate and regrettable and that she made it out of context.

“So, I strongly disagree that SANS are agents of corruption. The agents of corruption are known by those who are also corrupt, so, it’s only those who are corrupt that know those who are agents of corruption. So, to the best of my knowledge and as a SAN, I am over again saying that SANS are not agents of corruption”.

Chief Adeniyi Akintola, also a Senior Advocate, said the CJN was entitled to her opinion.

He said: “The Chief Justice of Nigeria is the head of the judiciary, which automatically means that before she made such statement, she must have been sure of her facts. So, her statement is her opinion according to available evidence before her, I am not in a position to fault her because I don’t know the facts available to her.

To a Professor of Law, Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi, the CJN may have

referred to the bad eggs among members of the Inner Bar. Akanbi said: “The truth of the matter is that in any organization, there are always bad eggs, meaning that not all the Senior Advocates of Nigeria will be good one. For her to make such statement there must be something she has seen being the head of the judiciary.

“She knows what she is saying because I believe in her capacity, she has seen it all. She is well known as someone who doesn’t utter words carelessly, so, I am sure she has her facts. In recent times, the judiciary and legal practitioner has not had it too well because some bad eggs among us are really painting and given us bad name.

It’s worrisome that in the top class of the legal practitioners whom expectations are high on for the good image of the judiciary and Nigeria at large, issues of corruption is rather on rampage. Since she has discovered this in whatever way she gets her facts, what is important now is for her as the head of the judiciary to deal with the situation with all necessary means and anyone found erring to be properly sanctioned because making only the statement will not solve the problem.

Another Senior Advocate, Paul Ananaba simply said “no, she couldn’t

NBA Owerri branch elects officers As the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holds this month, NBA Owerri branch which is the host branch for the event has elected new officers to pilot its affairs for the next two years.

At its recent general meeting at the Bar Centre, Owerri, the members in a keenly contested election, voted for Mr. Stanley Imo to lead the new executive committee as chairman. While Mr. I. F. Akponye and Mr. Chris Ihentuge were elected Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively, Ndidi Anike defeated her opponent to emerge Publicity Secretary in a hotly contested electoral face-off.

Others, who were also elected are Ishmael Nkwocha (Financial Secretary), Nkechi Obioha (Treasurer), Mazi Udegbulem (Assistant Secretary), and Ngozi Ihiekwe (Welfare Secretary).

The committee has since been inaugurated, with its first major task being a successful hosting of the 2014 Annual General Conference.

have said so”.

Ananaba said: “What she was saying is that we dispense corruption cases.

That’s what I understood of what she said. Actually most of those cases of corruption are high profile cases,so those involve usually require the services of SANS. And many of the lawyers handling the cases are SANS. Really as far as the law is concern in Nigeria, there is nothing that stops a SAN from defending any criminal case be it of corruption or not. Considering the fact that the CJN is a thorough and highly respected judge, so I think what she is doing is to caution even the SANS and others to not in the course of defending the criminal cases, go beyond to an extent of soiling our hands in any like manner of corruption.

“I appreciate what she is doing but the Bar and the Bench work together, meaning that no matter the amount of submission a SAN makes, if a judge does not agree with it, the submission will not be the decision of that court.

“So the judges and lawyers work together and will continue to work together, so I don’t think she is really indicting anybody. And be side that regardless of her position, she is also a Nigerian that has her own view of how things should work. Also as a Nigerian, a SAN and to the level of my knowledge, I strongly don’t think she is indicting SANs per se. I understood it to mean that she is rather sounding a caution and warning, which is a typical role of the head of the judiciary.

And to be frank, we cannot say that the Bar and the SANs in particular are perfect in all ways. Meanwhile, lawyers also blame judges in most cases as it may be. So, it’s a kind of check between the Bar and the Bench and that’s how it works. Again, it’s not an indictment because when you talk of the Bar, it is the SANS first before the other lawyer, so who will she first talking to as the Chief Justice of the Federation, and it has to be the SANS first because if the SANS work with her in making sure that justice is duly served, every other lawyer will fall into line”.

Mr. Jegede Oaikhire disagreed. He said since SANs could not be severe from the profession, corruption would always be found in the web.

Oaikhire said: "There is no doubting the fact that the political class contributed immensely to the fallen standards and corruption in the judiciary and the SANs as willing tools, are being used to denigrate the integrity of the noble profession.

"Examples of corrupt practices are replete in our memory and have remained indelible, i.e haphazard prosecution of high profile corruption cases; securing controversial and sometime frivolous injunctions in favour of politicians etc .

"However a lot of them still thrill us with sterling performances and tall integrity, we hope that someday, the rotten tooth would be pulled out, until then the mouth must chew with caution".

Mr. Abdul Mahmud, who doubles as the President of Public Interest LawCO NTINUED O N PAGE23

22 LAW | INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Ajulo canvasses separation of AGF’s office from Justice Minister Kayode Ajulo is an Abuja –based lawyer. Ajulo, chairman Board,Ondo state Radiovision in this interview with TUNDE OYESINA, reviewed the office of the AttorneyGeneral and Justice Minister and concluded that the separation of the office would guarantee smooth justice delivery system in the country.

Ajulo

How would you look at the political situation in Adamawa now? I mean, would the next governor completes Nyako’s tenure or on a fresh one?

We need to thank our legislators for doing a great job in this regards as they have in amending our constitution clear air on what to be done when we are faced with the problem as borne out by your question. The apex court has ruled several times on how the provision of the constitution must be interpreted, that is, it must be literarily given and what does our constitution says about the next governor of Adamawa State and the unexpired tenure of ex-governor Nyako? This has been taken care of by Section 191(2) of the Constitution as amended which held as follows; “Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section during a period when the office of Deputy Governor of the State is also vacant, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State shall hold the office of Governor of the State for a period of not more than three months, during which there shall be an election of a new Governor of the State who shall hold office for the unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office.”

President Jonathan seeks National Assembly's endorsement to borrow 1billion dollars to combat insurgency, what is your take on this?

I hate being sentimental when it comes to issues of security, as he who wears the shoe that knows where it pinches. As a lawyer, I want to be more concerned with the legality or the otherwise of the President to the National Assembly in regards to the loan. The request by the President to the National Assembly to obtain the loan by all ramifications is constitutional and I pray that in as much that some may be in the profession of abusing the President, we should acknowledge the fact that here is a man that is constitutionally compliant.

Now to the justification of the loan, it is crystal clear that the Boko Haram has called to question the corporate existence of Nigeria. The insurgents

The level of escalating desperation that is gradually becoming evident among our politicians leaves one with the fear that 2015 may become a negative watershed in our electoral history have caused horrendous havoc in the core North of Nigeria of which thousands have died and other maimed. It is therefore expected that the operation and campaign to rout the insurgents must be funded and I believe no amount should be too much to maintain peace in Nigeria.

Some quarters have canvassed for a separation between the office of the AGF and Minister of Justice. What is your take on this?

I am in total support of the recommendation of the National Conference Standing Committee on law, Judiciary & Human Rights for adopting a recommendation for the separation of the office of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation. The need is to ensure independence of the Office of AGF from political influence while there is the need for the two offices to be separately occupied by two individual in order to ensure justice.

By the way, the present fusion is only backed by convention and practice as the provision of Section 174 of Constitution only directed the President to appoint an AGF while there is still room for the appointment of Minister of Justice.

Members of the National Conference are making moves to make their resolutions form part of the new Constitution, what is your take on this?

I am not oblivious of the fact of several permutations to make the Conference resolutions part of the new con-

stitution, some even suggested sending the outcome to the National Assembly after a referendum; I am of the view that it is a misnomer to be thinking of sending the outcome of the referendum to the National Assembly. Although by our extant Constitution, a referendum can only be called in limited cases of state's creation, boundary adjustment and for legislator's recall. I am therefore of a forceful but humble opinion that what should be done by the National Assembly is to invoke the doctrine of necessity to call for a referendum so that the people can have their say about the recommendations emanating from the Confab exercise.

Recall that I canvassed for same during the seemingly constitutional debacle that we experienced during the controversy of late President Umaru Yaradua’s sickness, I approached the Federal High Court, Abuja to canvass this position and the National Assembly saw reason in the argument. I have a commendation from the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole for this undertaking and today we have doctrine of necessity being invoked in an obvious situation of necessity, the imperative of the Conference if well managed is another obvious situation and I see no reason why we should not toe that part since a precedence has been created.

We need to understand that power belong to the people, even the power of life and dead, if truly the conference is people oriented and the government and the people of Nigeria considered it inevitable, then whatever that came out of it should be treated as of necessity.

Do you foresee a free and fair election in 2015?

The level of escalating desperation that is gradually becoming evident among our politicians leaves one with the fear that 2015 may become a negative watershed in our electoral history.

However, I believe it is not too late to begin to re-orientate the electorate as to their right and duties before, during and after the election because when push gets to shove regardless of the antics of the political class, power ultimately resides in the people.

The electoral officers, that is, the presiding officers, the pool clerks, returning officers, party agents etc must be encouraged to shun all forms of inducements while now is the time for the Inspector-General of Police and the heads of other security agencies begin to prepare their men and trained them as to the expectations of the civil society for a fair, free and credible election.

If the above is properly done and achieved, the political class will have no option but to fall in line?

A committee of the National Conference is proposing for the change of Nigeria's name. How will you react to this?

That is over flogging the issue, and if one must ask, must they touch every issue in Nigeria, I even learn that some of them have started to give award to some people, is that part of their brief.

We need to get this clear, this is not the end of such conference in Nigeria, we will from time to time as Nigeria liveth, we have more conferences, all they

therefore need to do is to concentrate on germaine issues.

Who is Kayode Ajulo?

My parents are booksellers, I got introduced to books at an early age, I schooled in Akure before I proceeded to the University of Jos to study law, then proceeded to Nigerian Law School, Abuja and got called to the Bar in 2001.

I returned to the University of Jos to obtain a Masters of Law in 2006, then in the United Kingdom for another Masters degree in Law, majoring in Corporation & Tax Law. I am presently doing my Ph. D. research in Corporation Social Responsibly & Social Justice at the Middlesex University, London. I also teach law as adjunct/visiting lecturer in some universities including Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko while still practicing law in Nigeria with offices in Abuja, Lagos, Ghana, UK and the Gambia. Aside from these, I am a honorary chieftaincy titleholder in Akure, which is the Bamofinlewe of Akure, bestowed on me by the revered Deji of Akure and his Council of Chiefs.

What prompted you to read law?

I am prompted by providence, parents, and peers. My father was a manager at one of the oldest bookshop chain in Nigeria; I was therefore exposed to books at an early age. In fact, books happened to be what I first recognized. As a growing child, different story books were my toys. My father, SAO Ajulo of blessed memory, groomed me. All the elites and intelligentsia in the West had something to do with the bookshop and each time they came calling, my father had a way of introducing them to get us inspired. That was how I came across the late Justice Kayode Eso. In my choice of carrier as a lawyer, Justice Kayode Eso of the Supreme Court of Nigeria then was my first influence.

He was a great and well known jurist, and he was my father’s customer; so I met him at the Bookshop, when he came shopping. I must have been six or seven years old then; that encounter stuck to my memory – Justice Kayode Eso had on a bow tie, he looked so good – tall, dapper, classic and reverend. If anybody, then, asked me what I intended to do in future, my answer was that I wanted to be Kayode Eso. As I was growing up, I read about him always and got interested in law.

Late Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN) also reinforced my resolved to be a lawyer, with the way he successfully prosecuted Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Akin Omoboriowo’s election imbroglio and petition. Another lawyer, my late uncle Barrister Smart Omodunbi, an Awo loyalist and member of Ondo State House of Assembly, then, used to brief my father on how the case in court was going. As time went by, I got consumed with the late Kanmi Ishola Osobu, late Aka-Bashorun and late Gani Fawehinmi’s style of vibrant advocacy and activism. In fact, late Kanmi IsholaOshobu, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s lawyer, a fire-brand lawyer actually filled my JAMB form in his Sheraton Hotel suite in Abuja, to study law while Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle (Black Scorpion), and Prof. Idris Abdulkadir (then the Executive Secretary of National University Commission), ensured my choice of University of Jos to become a lawyer.

Who is your role model in the legal field?

It’s a privilege for me to have the late Chief Jeremaiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo as my role model in the legal field, here was a man whose intellectual acumen was unparallel, he excelled in the Political and legal field.

LAW 23

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Akanbi, Ananaba differ on CJN’s corruption allegation against SAN CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

yers League (PILL), said "being a silk is not only an honour, it highlights the attributes of excellence, panache and integrity that can be bestowed on recipients.

“But increasingly, we have seen the erosion of these attributes and the rapid enthronement of mediocrity and some of the obnoxious and disgraceful practices prevalent in the legal profession today.

"Were we not witnesses to the chastisement of some SANS by Justice Archibong in open court? It was the Learned Justice who alleged that a former President of the NBA wasn't fit to be bestowed the SANship title.

"The claim by the CJN is proper and for us in PILL, we call for a radical view of the award of SANship. Only those who have contributed to the development of our legal jurisprudence and espoused new areas of law and juridical science through advocacy and teaching should be awarded SANship.

"This is the practice in England, India and Australia. We can’t be the exception. Above all, impeccable character and unblemished integrity should remain the desideratum for award in order to weed out charlatans and dimwitted lawyers.

Another and President of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Wahab Toye said the position of SANs was meant to be a template or yardstick for measuring excellence in the legal profession adding, it was meant to contribute to the professional development of the judiciary but sadly enough, it has become a clog in the wheel of the judiciary.

He said: "Most of the frivolous applications are brought by SANs, though not all of them but some are so corrupt.

"On the other hand I may disagree with the CJN if she says SANs are corrupt because they appear for a judge under investigation before the NJC. "There is nothing bad in defending one-self or getting a legal practitioner since it is just an allegation.

"It is trite law, that every accused is presumed innocent until it is proven otherwise.

"If tomorrow, the CJN has a problem, she will need the service of a legal practitioner to defend her because she cannot defend herself. Legal Practitioners are to defend the interest of their clients. Hiring a legal practitioner by a judge does not amount to corruption, rather it a fundamental human right privilege.

"That issue does not amount to corruption. The CJN goofed, if she is referring to hiring of SANs by a judge to defend him as corruption. It is an allegation and whoever is accused, must defend himself.

Such statement is ex-cathedral, it has no locus. If that is the case, the whole judiciary is corrupt.

To Osaghie Iwambe : "I think in as much as the CJN is trying to fight corruption, she should be bold enough and approach it wholistically.

"There is no need in passing the bulk because the office of the CJN makes input to those who are appointed as silks. Does that mean the past CJNs do not do their job very well, this is a critical issue that should be taken seriously.

"It seems to me that she is scared of some people, hence this selective statement.

"Justice Talba was suspended because of what the Media said but the judgement the man delivered was in line with constitution. It was a deadly mistake suspending him for acting on what the law says.

"The CJN is not having a critical study of the situation. If really she wants to fight corruption, she should have done what a former CJN, Justice Kutigi did in appointing judges that will sit on election tribunals.

"Before appointing any judge to sit on election tribunal, the local Bar was asked for its input and because of that some of the judges were dropped.

"But now, they have overlooked the NBA in the appointment of SANs. This is one of the things affecting us till today.

"Is the CJN really sincere with fighting corruption? She should stop selective accusations. This is a critical issue to be looked at.

"The CJN plays a great role in appointing SANs. Those silks that have been proved to be corrupt, what have she done to them?

"Lawyers and judges cannot be separated from Nigeria, if Nigerians are corrupt, then they have the tendency of being corrupt.

"All what the CJN needs to do is to sieve the corrupt ones at the entry point and in doing this, the local NBA where any one intending to become SAN is coming from should be consulted for their input.

"If you have appointed a corrupt lawyer as a SAN, why are you now crying out now. The bulk should not be passed".

Uche, others kick against FRSC's plan to enforce new driver’s licence, number plate Tunde Oyesina

A

lthough it has deferred its implementation indefinitely, some lawyers have kicked against the plan by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to enforce the new driver’s licence and number plates, describing it as illegal.

This, the lawyers said would become ultra vires, null and void and of no effect should it go ahead without recourse to a subsisting judgement.

Reacting, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, said that it was a nullity for the commission to choose one judgment out of three judgments on the same issue as a basis for the enforcement.

"It is not lawful for the FRSC to just choose or pick one judgment out of the three judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction for execution,’’ he said.

Uche however counseled the commission, saying the only option available to the FRSC

was to wait for the Court of Appeal to decide on the matter since there were two subsisting judgments against it.

Also speaking, a Josbased lawyer, Mr Tob Kekemeke faulted FRSC’s threat that it would go ahead to impound the vehicles without the new driver’s licence and number plates, saying the decision of the Anambra state High Court was tantamount to ``disorder having regard to the preceding judgments of the Lagos and Abuja Federal High Courts on the issue’’. ``FRSC must wait for the outcome of the appeal it filed instead of trying to enforce one of the three judgments of courts of equal jurisdiction that is in its favour,’’ he said.

Similarly, a Lagosbased lawyer, Mr Adamu Alimi, said the courts were of coordinate jurisdiction, as such only a court of higher jurisdiction could settle the matter.

He said: ``Last week,

the same thing happened in the U.S with respect to the Affordable Care Act. ``One court in the morning took a decision saying that only the state exchanges can give health insurance subsidy but later that day, another court of coordinate jurisdiction said federal exchanges can give that subsidy. ``So, in a situation like this, it is not invalidation, they gave contrary decisions; it is now left for a court of a higher jurisdiction to resolve the issue”.

Alimi, however, said that if the Federal High Court had ruled that redesigning of new number plates was not covered under the provisions of any law in Nigeria, the FRSC had nothing to enforce.

FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Mr Chidi Nkwonta, had a fortnight ago threatened to, enforce the new driver’s licence and the number plates following a judgment of an Anambra High Court which gave the FRSC the go-ahead to impound defaulters.

``Nigerians must discountenance that first misleading judgment and take this one because we are going to continue enforcement as from August 1, 2014. ``So, while we are still waiting for the appeal we are going to go on with this other judgment,’’ Nkwonta had said.

It would also be recalled that the Anambra Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi on June 30, in his judgment held that FRSC’s directive to change old driver’s licence and number plates was legal three months after Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on March 26 declared that the FRSC had no legal authority to impose new number plates on motorists in the country. ``The ongoing exercise by the FRSC to replace the old number plates with a new one is illegal and unconstitutional because there is no law empowering it to carry out the exercise,’’ he said.

L-R Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, Justice John Afolabi Fabiyi JSC, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad JSC; Standing L-R: Barrister of the English Bar, Arshard Ghaffar; Solicitor and Arbitrator, Paul Bugden; Solicitor and Arbitrator, Momoh Kadiri and others

NEW JOB

ICC names Nwakogo regional coordinator

International Arbitrators have named a Nigerian lawyer as one of its regional chapter coordinators

ogo, is one of the seven Regional Chapter Coordinators in charge of the Middle East and Africa Chapter.

His appointment as ICC YAF Regional Chapter Coordinator came barely three months after his election as Chairman of the Young Members Group (YMG), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigerian branch.

By virtue of his position as Chairman of the YMG, he also became a member of the Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigerian branch.

Nwakogo, a corporate and commercial lawyer is a “member” of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is a Partner at Rosberg Legal Practitioners & Arbitrators.

The ICC YAF provide a forum for young pro-

T

he Inter national Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration’s Young Arbitrators Forum (YAF) has announced the names of the committee members who will co-ordinate its regional activities for the next two years. In an announcement made by the ICC on its website the ICC YAF announced its new Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) members for the 2014-2016 mandate.

In the list, a Nigerian lawyer, Mr. Greg Nwak-

fessionals (40 years and under) to learn from experienced practitioners about career development and issues of interest in the field of arbitration, provide opportunities for young professionals to network, and to identify and develop mentor relationships and to educate and expose members to ICC dispute resolution services amongst other things.

The RCC members, representing 30 countries, will be in charge for the next two years of promoting and developing the ICC YAF global network which includes over 7,500 members worldwide. The ICC YAF educational programmes and conferences offer an ideal environment for young practitioners to exchange their views on international arbitration

and learn from experts.

In a statement by Jose Feris, ICC YAF Co-Chair and Deputy Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, he said “ICC YAF has significantly expanded over the past years in quantity, diversity and geographical reach. We are delighted to have been able to choose an incredibly divers and talented group of young professionals located throughout the world in response to such expansion. Each of them brings a great deal of energy, experience and new ideas. We look forward to collaborating with them individually and as group to create new synergies that will continue to push our global network forward and build stronger ties among our members”.

24 JURIST His father, now deceased was a silk wig. Nine of his siblings also donned the wig years after his call to the Bar. Chief Harold Ighodaro Ihensekhien, who was called to the Bar about 25 years ago, speaks on his foray into the legal profession, judiciary, security challenge and sundry issues. CAJETAN MMUTA met him.

Background He and his siblings practice their trade in a law firm, established by their late father some forty-six years ago. Chief Harold Ighodaro Ihensekhien, who has carved a niche for himself in the legal profession, plies his law trade in Benin, the Edo state capital.

He was called to the Bar in 1989. He is from a family of lawyers. His father, who died in 2001, was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Nine of his siblings were also called to the Bar some years after he donned the wig.

In all, there are 10 lawyers in Chief Harold Ighodaro Ihensekhien family of which he is the most senior following the death of his father about 13 years ago.

Ihensekhien, a titled chief told New Telegraph his background this way: “Well, I am Chief Ighodaro Ihensekhien.

I was called to the Bar in 1989.

We are a family of 11 lawyers; including our father.

We have eleven lawyers in the family. My late father was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He passed on in 2001.

Now, I am the most senior lawyer in the family. This law firm was established in 1968 by my late father. So, you can check the age of the office. And over the years, I think we have paid our dues in this practice. It has not been easy, though, you know like every other profession the older you get the better it becomes just like the story of the old wine, it gets better every day.

We have cause to thank God for keeping us alive to be able to carry on this legacy which our father left for us. Actually, only three of us are in practice while others are working for government agencies. Now, we are five male lawyers and four female lawyers and we have a sister from our step mother who is also a lawyer.

In 2004 our names got into the Guinness Book of Records as the first family in the world to produce this group number of lawyers; in the whole world you can hardly find a family of ten lawyers just like you have in the Dafinone family, five brothers that have the most number of accountants. We are practically into advocacy.

We are not into properties as some lawyers do. That means that we are basically in the courts every day.

So, we hardly have time to run around and begin to look for property to buy for you or start looking for those who

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

We made Guinness Book as family with highest number of lawyers — Ihensekhien

Chief Ihensekhien

have property to sell; that is not our field. Our field is the toughest cases and the cases we do are land matters, chieftaincy matters, maritime and other areas.

Law as a special field What is special about being a professional is special in the sense that it is a special field.

It’s something I can recommend to anybody because it is work I can do until death. I can do it until I am one hundred years without retirement being a private lawyer. The only thing that can retire you is either ill health or death which we don’t pray for. That makes you special and of course you can continue to grow as long as the cases are there to practice with. That is why it is called practice that makes perfect.

Lawyers are humble people and it is a very noble profession and it is what I enjoy doing because it is always good to do what you enjoy doing, what you are happy over. I am happy over the work I do.

Growing up Well, as a child born into this family, in the beginning it wasn’t rosy. I was born the day my father went to the university and on his way to the school I was born at Agbor. On his way to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka he stopped over at Agbor the day I was born and that was the day he named me Ighodaro, that means I am looking forward to better things and you can imagine we grew up with our grandparents in the village.

From 1963 till about 1970 after school, he went to law school and established his law firm.

We have eleven lawyers in the family.

My late father was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)

In 1968 he was in Benin to start his practice and he felt he could bring his family to Benin he brought us from the village; I first started staying with him at number 19 Lagos Street.

Actually, this chambers was established by three friends; himself, Justice G.E. Edokpayi and one other person. But between 1968, his practice of law was hit by the drum of war, hence he was not getting briefs so they had to join the ministry while my father remained in practice.

Between 1970 and 1975, he had made his mark because there were few lawyers at that time. The first lawyer from Esanland was called to the Bar in 1958. He was Chief C. I. Akhere, the father of the incumbent Benin NBA chairman. And the second lawyer was in 1959. He was Chief Sado, a former judge of the High Court, now retired.

So, by the time my father came up in 1968, they were not more than five or six lawyers in Esanland. So you can expect that, of course, the hard briefs were patronized by their people. My father’s special area was criminal law. So from that time, he became a SAN in 1988 and he was the first Esan Senior Advocate of Nigeria. In fact, the only Senior Advocate of Nigeria between Esan and Etsako, that is Edo Central and Edo north. Already then Benin had about four of them.

So, even he became a SAN before a lot of his seniors, some of those after him were not elevated. So out of dint of hard work he made to that level and he was number 67th on the roll but now they are more than 500. He had one of the richest libraries in the state. So, you can imagine a man who invested so much in books and of course you can understand that he was a reader. He read from morning till the next morning and again he had the support of our mothers.

He had two wives; my mother and my step mother who lived with him until he passed on in 2001 and my mother passed on in February this year and buried in May. Choice of career I didn’t, though, I was proud that my dad was a lawyer but he never forced any of us to read law. I wasn’t really ready to read law. I was to read history at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.

The evening before the next morning I was supposed to go to Ife to perfect my admission, the late Professor Aghe was with my father in the sitting room when I came to tell my father. So, Aghe asked where I was going and I told him my mission. I told him I was going to Ife to perfect my admission and he asked me my course of study, of which I said History.

He said history? You want to become a teacher? He said ‘I

am the Dean, Faculty College of Legal Studies, Bendel State University. He said why don’t come and pick a form and come to the University I will give you admission. And that singular encounter changed my choice of career and the option to read law.

Challenges No, law was part of my choice of course, I didn’t have enough cut off mark but got the required cut off mark to read history. but when I now got admission on a platter of gold of course I seized the opportunity.

Judiciary The judiciary, of course, you know is an arm of government but it is a pity that they are not given their due independence.

So, you still find that the judiciary is heavily dependent on the executive and by that you can imagine that they cannot be hundred per cent free to take their decisions. They are not given that room to determine what happens and you know it is the man who pays the piper that dictates the tune.

So, you find that they are constrained and again you find that like every other thing about Nigeria, this country is corrupt. You still find corrupt judges who can still sometimes look the other way and allow themselves to be corrupted.

Incidentally you find that even the Senior Advocates of Nigeria are in this. They are the ones that are close to the judges and are the ones that even corrupt the judges. Bribery is very rampant; of course, recently you noticed that some judges were dismissed from the judiciary including a lady from Edo state, Olotu, and the EFCC is still investigating her.

She has houses all over the place and you cannot defend the source of your wealth and you find that some of these judges are just sheer lazy.

Some of them keep judgment in Abuja for three months and the judge says you cannot keep judgment for more than three months otherwise you would have lost the trend of that case because one of the functions of a judge is to assess witnesses in the witness box while giving evidence to know whether it is evidence of truth. So, by the time you leave that matter for up to three months you would have lost the trend after the final address; you will not remember the assessment of the witness, that one you don’t note it is just physical thing.

These are some of the challenges. You can imagine now the courts are on strike over certain things government cannot agree with the staff of the judiciary. Some matters are tied down.

Judiciary and autonomy Yes, because you find that

JURIST 25

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

the amount the states derive from processing rules filed in the courts if you know the figure you will see that if they are given free hands because go to the High Court, there is no road to the area. Once you enter that gate of that high court building you will see deep pot holes; that place is in a mess. It doesn’t take much to fix that yet the governor will want the chief judge of the state to come cap in hand, begging for money to repair the courts. The judges should have autonomy, they should not romance the executive because when they do that they get corrupted.

Look, you see now allocation to the judiciary comes from the executive and the executive has its own purse and manage its affairs. They should be able to manage their affairs, fund themselves. For example, all the money that goes to the judiciary comes from the state government and when we fight the battle the money goes to the treasury it doesn’t need to be so. Judiciary must have its own treasury or purse, than the house to determine if you are talking about votes and allocation. Let them determine what comes to them, not for them to depend on the states to feed them.

For instance, in America and Britain, judiciary enjoys autonomy and of course, you know that those countries are advanced.

In the execution of power; the judiciary, the executive and the legislature are independent of each other. For example, the American government and the parliament have separate purses.

They manage their own affairs; that is why you find in these countries their independence and when they give decisions it doesn't matter whose ox is gored. They don't look back. But here, very rarely can you have a judge that can rule a case against the state.

It’s a pity that nothing is right in this country, things are done upside down.

Now, if the government of this country is sincere just like we have the Confab, all these issues are the issues that the Confab should be allowed to handle but don’t forget again that there were no go areas given to this Confab. Like this matter, it would be addressed by the Confab but it wasn’t because these areas are no go areas. But I believe that one day a Moses will come and he will cause a real change in this country because here we stamp the head on its head. But I believe that one day things will be done rightly but whether it will be in our generation I don’t know and nobody knows.

Crisis in Edo House of Assembly and Way forward Look at the way out is simple: What they are doing in the state house of assembly is sheer politics. The lawmakers are being paid tax payers money. This matter is beyond courts. The gentlemen in the House of Assembly can call themselves to order. What is the essence of renovating the House of Assembly just because they don’t want the house to sit? You now carry the members loyal to the executive to the government house. Now, you can imagine, can they function well there? Their hands are tied. The governor is scared that he is losing his members and he is going to lose more. There is a problem between the governor and a faction of the APC who left to join the PDP. I must tell you something; we brought Oshiomhole. I was involved. Most promises he made to us he never fulfilled. Those guys who left him for the PDP, left two years ago for the same reason that the man is dishonest. He is not a good administrator. The politics he is playing is labour politics. He is not a politician. We brought him because of his pedigree as a labour leader that he will be able to affect some changes and APC brought him because he has a national outlook as it were. The first pounded yam and black soup we ate was in Chief Frank Okafi Erewele’s house in Benin. Okafi’s

We brought Oshiomhole and I was involved. Most promises he made to us he never fulfilled. Those guys who left him for the PDP, left two years ago for the same reason that the man is dishonest school; it is the practice. Concentrate on the practice itself, read normally and upgrade yourself. It lies within you. The university is there, after that you go to law school and there are conferences, seminars, you continue to update yourself. But definitely you find out that if not some lawyers most from Lagos axis the activists we will not even have the democracy we have today. Somebody like the late Gani Fawehinmi, Rotimi Williams; these are great lawyers. Femi Falana, Agbakoba recently these are great lawyers. So there is no problem with the lawyers but they need to upgrade, from time to time attend seminars, internal and local conferences to update and buy recent books. We keep buying books every day to update.

Chief Ihensekhien

Let Judiciary determines what comes to it and not for it to depend on government to feed itself wife prepared pounded yam and black soup and Oshiomhole visited us in the house and Okafi called me so that we all can receive Oshiomhole and we all ate together in the same plate. Until I left ACN for these reasons I gave we were very close. I resigned from the ECTS. Defection, INEC and democracy It’s very healthy to move from one party to the other, nothing stops you; we are not slaves in a party. If you are in a political party and you feel you cannot be there anymore you have to leave, look for a greener pasture, not necessarily for money. Incidentally, the political parties in Nigeria do not have policies, they don’t have manifestoes.

Now there is a process of recalling a member of the house of assembly to his constituency if the constituency feels the person is not serving them the way and manner he ought to. There is a process for declaring a seat vacant. For example, you saw senators who defected from PDP to APC, there is a process the house would have followed that they would have declare their seats vacant but till date has that been done? No. There is a process for everything but it is very, very normal for you to leave one party to the other because politics is horse race to realize ambition. If you think you cannot realize your ambition in party A you can go to party B. The law provides for all these things but it has to be done in the right manner.

Judges and adjournment of cases The judges are prepared to work but the problem with adjournments is the lawyers. You find that most of the cases that are adjourned if you are in court that day are for one excuse or the other.

Either the lawyer will say he is not feeling too fine and of course, ill health is something you cannot determine.

Secondly, you find that some lawyers don’t prepare their briefs. You have a matter coming next week you have not filed the processes, you will now be looking for opportunity when the day comes to adjourn your matter. They are not prepared and yet their clients pay them. And there are cases that sometimes the clients they will give you briefs they don’t pay, they can’t even pay your transport fare to court but yet they want justice. Do you expect the lawyer to start going to borrow money to do the client’s case and so all those make some lawyers look very discouraged over some briefs?

Nigeria’s legal education Yes, of course, you should know that the quality of lawyers we have in Nigeria, we have thoroughly bred lawyers here. But like every other profession too, we have those who are not because in law when you leave school you are a green horn, you really get to learn of these things when you are practicing and you learn every day. God forbid that one man should know all the law, we don’t know all the law. These books we buy, we buy about four copies every month, one a week and very expensive about N1, 200 for one copy and you must buy four every month to update yourself. Of course, you know we have great schools; University of Ife, University of Lagos even Ekpoma here. I am a product of Ekpoma, what makes you is not when you wear your gown after law

Boko Haram insurgency Nigerian system created Boko Haram; injustice created Boko Haram, insincerity. The initial leaders of Boko Haram did not imagine that one day it will become what it is. It was basically religion and of course you know we have rights to religion, you have a choice of religion. A father can be a Christian while the son will say no I want to be a non-Christian. Now what led to all these; the initial leader of Boko Haram was killed unjustly and the followers said no this is injustice and they started fighting the system. But the initial Boko Haram is not the one that exists now. The one that exists now are not Nigerians and that is why they find it easy to kill in the north. And the Boko Haram believes the leaders in the north, again some of them, have hands in it.

They use it for their own selfish purposes and now it has grown like the monster. The Boko Haram activity is going to impoverish the north. They started by killing common people, now they kill emirs. They kidnap top shots; Bornu in Maiduguri, Yobe and the other states where they have state of emergency.

Now, the economy of those states, have been grounded due to the activities of Boko Haram. So, what they thought as a religious jihad has now become a monster they cannot control. Initially, they were happy that Boko Haram wanted to Islamize Nigeria; when they were killing Christians then nobody came out to shout but now they are all coming out to condemn it because the thing has turned against its masters. So, we don’t have any problem with that; they created it, they should stop it. This Chibok thing they are talking about, Chibok girls, I don’t believe that it exists. I believe it is a scam otherwise where are the parents of these children? It is a scam to discredit President Jonathan’s government and there is nothing under the sun that can stop Jonathan from getting his second tenure. Not even Boko Haram threats, not the insurgents because for the first time in this country we found a system that threw up a southern minority presidency.

You remember Buhari said in those conferences that he would make this country ungovernable for Jonathan.

So, all these people are deceitful; they know how Boko Haram came and they will know how to end it. So whether Boko Haram is doing what they are doing Jonathan is forging ahead. Come February 2015 he is going to go for a second term.

26 LAW | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

CON T INU ED F R O M LA S T W EEK

*Dr. Oghenesivbe, is a member, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (M.NIIA), a political and socio-economic analyst.

Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe

I

t is trite that where a warrant expressly states specified time of execution and the executing officer violates such lawful order; such act of the police officer becomes unlawful and can be set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction and police officer liable in a civil action.

The valid execution of a search warrant is anchored on Section 78 of the Criminal Procedure Code which expressly states that a search warrant should be executed in the presence of two (2) respectable inhabitants in the neighbourhood to be summoned by the person to whom the warrant is addressed. If the premise to be searched is occupied by a woman in Purdah and unless she is the one to be arrested, she shall be informed that she is at liberty to withdraw before the executing officer enters the premises and shall give her every reasonable time or facility to perfect her withdrawal. This procedure is only applicable in Northern Nigerian where the Islamic injunctions are adhered to in certain pretrial investigations. It will therefore be unlawful for a police officer to enter the apartment of a Muslim woman in purdah to execute a warrant without first adhering to this provision.

A Customs Officer may without a search warrant enter or break into a place where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that something worthwhile and liable to forfeiture is kept or concealed under Section 147 (1) of the Customs and Exercise Management Act while Section 32 of the NDLEA Act empowers a Police Officer, a customs officer, any member of the armed forces, the director or any officer of the NDLEA to enter without search warrant, search any land, building, et al, which he has reasons to believe is connected with the commission of an offence under the Act. Before a search is conducted by a police officer, it is necessary that such police officer should first be searched to ensure that he or she is not in possession of certain incriminating materials or weapons which can be planted in the premises to implicate the suspect where the warrant executing officer has personal scores to settle or have been settled to implicate the suspect.

It is also to prevent the suspect alleging that the exhibit found in his premises was planted by the warrant executing police officer. This process is however not a legal requirement hence the failure to search the officer’s body before he or she conducts the search does not make the search illegal or un-

FredLatimore Oghenesivbe

Criminal litigation: Legal execution of search warrants Materials illegally or wrongly obtained in the cause of executing a search warrant are admissible in evidence during trial irrespective of how such evidence is obtained lawful or wrongful. It is recommended that a person whose body or premises is to be searched should first be given the right to search the body of the warrant executing officer (the police) before commencing the search.

In State versus Musa Sadau (1968) NMLR 208, the accused persons alleged that the item recovered in the course of the search was buried there by the officer who conducted the search so as to implicate him.

Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) provides for the right to privacy which is why whenever a constitutional or statutory right of a citizen is to be derogated from, maximum care must be taken to ensure that derogation is for good cause and every provision relating to such derogation must be complied with. Therefore, whenever a person causes the premises of another to be searched wrongfully, he or she would render himself or herself liable in civil action. This rule states that if a person without reasonable cause, procure or cause the procurement of a search warrant pursuant to which another person’s property, car, ship, office, personal effect or any other device was searched by a police officer, or even leading to his arrest, detention and/or prosecution, the person who laid such malicious complaint on the basis of which

the police officer acted will be liable in damages. In the same vein, in the case of a complaint leading to the arrest and detention of the suspect, the complainant will be liable for false imprisonment.

In Mgarba versus Maigoro(1992), Balogun Versus Amubikahu (1989), Ojo versus Lasisi (2003) and UAC Plc versus Sobodu(2006), the courts maintained that the complainant who set in motion, investigation, arrest and prosecution of the accused person will be liable for civil liability arising from unlawful arrest, detention and prosecution. Therefore, it is important that the complainant must be sure of the complaint brought to the police or law enforcement agent otherwise may end up paying huge compensation to the accused person if the prosecution fails to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt leading to discharge and acquittal of the accused person.

Materials illegally or wrongly obtained in the cause of executing a search warrant are admissible in evidence during trial irrespective of how such evidence is obtained. The implication of this evidence rule is that even if material evidence was obtained by force or fraudulently or even by violating the rights of the accused person shall be admitted in evidence provided it is relevant to the prosecution.

In Kuruma versus R, R versus Lecthan (1861), Musa Sadau & Another versus The State, the courts held that illegally obtained piece of evidence is admissible so long it has direct relevance to the case. Section 15 of the Evidence Act 2011 provides for circumstances which the court should consider before admitting piece of evidence obtained illegally or wrongfully. These include; the probative value of the evidence; the importance of the evidence in the proceedings; the nature of the relevant offence, cause of action of the defense and the nature of the subjectmatter of the proceeding, the gravity

of the impropriety or contravention; whether the impropriety or contravention was deliberate or reckless; whether any other proceeding has been or is likely to be taken in relation to the impropriety or contravention; and the difficulty, if any, of obtaining the evidence without propriety or contravention of law.

The above section has brought remarkable innovations into the admissibility of illegally and wrongly obtained material evidence in criminal litigation in Nigeria. It has put final paid to the era of impunity in pre-trail investigation process by stating conditions for which illegally obtained material evidence can be admissible. In the English case of Elias versus Passmore (1934), it was held that a police officer who obtains evidence illegally may be liable in a civil action. The decision in State versus Sadau is no longer good law in Nigeria. The constitution also provided some rights of the accused person in police custody which has also curtailed the reckless obtaining of evidence in pre-trail process. These rights include; right to remain silent or avoid answering of questions from a police officer until he has consulted a legal practitioner of his own choice under section 35 (3) of the 1999 constitution (As Amended); The right to be informed in writing in the language he understands explaining the grounds of arrest or the nature of offence under Section 35 (2), right to be tried within a reason time under Section 35 (4) (5), right to fair hearing under Section 36 (1), et al.

The accused person also has the right to public apology upon a wrongful procurement of warrant of arrest leading to actual arrest and false imprisonment in violation of Section 35 of the 1999 constitution (As Amended).

The Court decisions in Agbakoba versus SSS, Giwa versus the State, et al. Search warrants not properly obtained are generally illegal and police officers should ensure that only the authorities empowered to issue warrants are approached. It is trite that where a law enforcement agent in the course of carrying out his duties decides to execute a warrant in a manner inconsistent with laid down procedure or otherwise obtain evidence illegally, he or she will render himself or herself liable in a civil action as was decided in the English case of Elias versus Passmore.

In the next article, I will be discussing Pre-Trial and Police Interview with special focus on Judge’s Rule, Alibi, and Confessional statement of an accused, Trial within trial, Identification parade, Police bail and exhibits in Police custody.

Bureau’s support for reform will enhance fight against corruption PARTNERSHIP

Code of Conduct Bureau reteirates its committment to partner TUGAR in the fight against corruption Tunde Oyesina he Chairman Code of ConTSaba duct Bureau (CCB), Sam has reiterated the Bu-

reau’s commitment to support the Technical unit on Governance and Anti-corruption reform (TUGAR) by sharing knowledge in areas that could assist in the operational performance of the nation’s anticorruption agencies.

The chairman said this at the occasion of the launching of the phase II of TUGAR scoping survey and gap analysis of the anti-

Saba

corruption initiative in Nigeria According to the chairman “occasions like this, not only help us to share ideas and offer assistance on areas where our assignments relate as anticorruption agencies but equally send strong messages to those who trouble our nation, that is, the corrupt, that anti-corruption agencies in this country are working together to put a formi-

dable front in the fight against corruption.”

Earlier, the Executive Secretary Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed harped on effort by successive governments to rid the nation of corrupt practices by setting up many agencies and initiatives to combat the endemic cancer just as the need

to foster co-ordination of these agencies led to the establishment of TUGAR. However, Ahmed said the mapping and scoping survey of anti-corruption and government measure in Public Finance Management (PFM) in Nigeria, an initiative of TUGAR, had provided comprehensive and detailed gap analysis of public finance management system in 10 select states.

The states, according to her are Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Jigawa, katsina, kogi, Nasarawa, Ogun, Taraba and Yobe.

The report arising from the states, she said would be used to bring about the necessary and desired improvement in the country’s public finance management system with a view to transforming the national economic forum.

In his remarks Mr, Ledum

Mitee Chairman, Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT), said the nation’s effort to combat corruption and improve governance must be prosecuted on the basis of credible data and improved studies especially on the critical aspects of our governance and the economy.

Besides, he said that mismanagement of public finances, if pursued, would have far reaching effects on governance and indeed the polity.

“It is therefore auspicious for this database construction initiative to prioritize the public finance management system (PFM), he said.”

The findings of the mapping and scoping survey of anti-corruption and Governance measures in Public Finance Management (PFM) was presented

by Ms. Lilian Ekeanyanwu, who heads TUGAR.

HEALTH THURSday, AUGUST 7, 2014

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/health

EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PROVIDE RELIEF FOR arthritis

}p-28 appolonia adeyemi appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com appoloniaadeyemi@gmail.com

Ebola: We must face the reality of science – NIMR boss Since Friday, July 25 when the late Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer that imported Ebola Virus Disease into Nigeria died in the country, two key prevention messages to the citizens focus on ensuring personal hygiene and the need to avoid consuming bush meat.

In this interview, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Innocent Ujah fielded questions with journalists on efforts to control Ebola virus, why bush meat is dangerous to health, the importance of following doctor’s advice, among others. APPOLONIA ADEYEMI was there. Excerpts:

DEADLY VIRUS Evidenced-based medicine is the solution Is Ebola Virus Disease African? he Chimpanzees, orang-outangs, the bats are the reservoir of the infection, particularly the Ebola viruses.

So, you cannot say Ebola is African.

It is just that these animals are in Africa.

That is why Ebola is an African issue but it is not an African issue.

T

Why people say it is an African issue is because so far, there has not been any reported case from outside Africa. How will you react to this?

Not in this case. HIV was not first reported in Africa. So, it could not be African. There are other conditions that are reported from other places. In any case, the reservoir for Ebola virus are chimpanzees, which we have in Africa in abundance. They are orang-outangs and monkeys and we use these animals as our own meat. The white man does not eat monkeys, orang-outangs or bats. In my opinion that is why the Ebola infections occur in Africa.

These are bush animals. They are not pets. The pets are being looked after by veterinary doctors who ensure that they are free from any diseases. It is just that these animals are resident in Africa.

What was done to control Ebola Virus Disease in 1976 when it was first discovered?

Nothing was done to stop it. It was controlled in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). That is what Nigeria has just done.

The first case that was imported into Nigeria, the same thing happened.

If, for instance, this case was not con-

The Ebola virus is very small.

If you touch somebody, you wash your hands to protect yourself. If you do not wash your hands, you can put that same hand in your mouth.

This is personal hygiene

Ujah

tained earl, I can tell you that it would have been a disaster. That is why those who were in direct contact with the Liberian that imported it into Nigeria are being quarantined. That is the way to control the infection. If not, you will find that they can spread the infection.

Between 1976 and the 1980s, there was a break.

That is what you know. There was a break because you did not hear of a case. The fact that you did not hear of a case does not mean that it did not exist.

There could have been some cases even in Nigeria but people did not apparently knew about it It is possible because in Nigeria, many people die and they say they are poisoned. Many people in this country die and what you hear is he had headache two days ago, he had abdominal pain the previous day, and they die a day or two days afterwards.

If such people were subjected to tests,

probably, we would find what killed them. Also, we have to suspect the condition first. Now we know that anybody who is suspected to have headache, fever, diarrhoea, sore throat, nausea, now have to be tested for Ebola virus. So, it is the suspicion that is important.

Now we have viral infections ravaging around - dengue fever is there, Ebola disease is there, hepatitis is there, and malaria is there. In March, the federal government issued a release, saying all of these have symptoms that are alike.

People are now saying there should be tests conducted at the borders for people coming into the country. How possible will this be?

It is not for everybody. It is for suspected cases. That is why we say that the late Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer should not have been allowed to travel. He should have been stopped at the other end especially when they knew that he showed signs of fever.

Should the authority now say anyone travelling in and out of West African countries should present a certificate of fitness?

I am not in position to say that. There was a feeling that because Sawyer was ill, he should not have travelled. Obviously, he must have seen a doctor and he must have been told that this is the situation. Take the example of Chika Amalaha, Nigerian weighthighter in the commonwealth games that has now been disqualified. She defied doctor's advice. Today, she has been disqualified. So, you must listen to your doctor.

Doctors are not God but they have been trained. Therefore, you must respect their opinion. It is very important.

It is also similar to the issue of the preachers. When we say a woman should have caesarian operation, otherwise, she could rupture her uterus, it is not that she must necessarily rupture the uterus. However, the risk of rupturing the uterus for that woman is very high. And then she goes to the pastor. Pastor will say to her, “do not do it. I will pray for you”. Then, of course, if she does not rupture the uterus, she will go round saying, "After all, doctor said I will rupture my uterus but I did not rupture my uterus". That goes. The other ones pastor advised not to do the caesarian, operation that died, did you hear about them? That is the tragedy we face as medical practitioners. So, many people would have been dying.

This question was posed to me by one of the media agencies: "When this infection was discovered since 1976 why did we not do anything to contain it?"

I said when insurgency started in Iraq, did we not know it will come here (Nigeria)? What did we do?

The element is when you talk about that, people will say, "No, it will not come to Nigeria. It is not my portion. The issue is that we must face the reality of science. There is no two way about it.

What we are saying is that it is not possible to treat or test everybody. It is a public health issue but we can test or treat any one with high index of suspicion.

There is someone who had drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) and he was supposed to be on treatment and he did not report. Unfortunately for him, he did not know that the records are transmitted to other places. He was going to go to America or so and he was caught at the airport and was not allowed to travel. He came back to us to access the treatment.

C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 2 8

28 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Expert refutes bitter kola cure claim for Ebola Martins Ifijeh

esearch Director of Family Care Africa, Dr. Edward Okobi has refuted claims that Bitter Kola (Garcinia kola), can cure the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), saying the study must pass through global standard and clinical trials before it can be recognised as a cure for EVD. Okibi said, "Until these clinical trials are done to verify the potency of whether bitter kola can cure Ebola disease or not, Nigerians should adhere strictly to universal safety and cleanliness precautions rather than bank on incomplete research works. For now, Nigerians should discard the bitter kola theory.

"As we continue to await outcome of international and local studies, we enjoin everyone to maintain high level of suspicion and avoid places of EVD outbreak," he added.

Okobi however acknowledged that the preliminary studies done on bitter kola plant in the 1990s showed signs that it may benefit Ebola victims by slowing down multiplication of the virus and that it is also potent in treating bronchitis, throat infections, cough and other forms of minor ailments. "More so, further researches have validated the century- long practice of using bitter kola to treat

R

with Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe

ada.ndukwe@yahoo.com

Osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: Know the difference (2) Bitter kola

JOINT FUNCTION LIMITATION

male impotency, building stronger immunity, resistance against malaria and improving respiratory function."

While reacting to this development in a recent interview, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu reiterated federal government's stand that there is no cure yet for Ebola virus. "There is no proof that bitter kola can cure Ebola disease. Although, in vitro research showed that some extracts from bitter kola tend to have some activity against the virus.

The research was not concluded. I want to restate that taking bitter kola does not stop Ebola Virus Disease.”

Rumour that bitter kola is a cure for EVD was traced back to a presentation made 16 years ago (July, 1999) during the 16th Annual International Botanical Congress in United States of America (U.S.A) by a Nigerian who

is the Executive Director of Bio-resources Development and Conversation Programme and former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu. During the event, Iwu said bitter kola, a traditionally used daily tonic in West Africa stopped the Ebola virus in test tubes in initial laboratory experiments and may also work against the flu.

"The Garcinia kola compound also known as bitter kola has been shown to halt multiplication of the virus in the laboratory.

If repeated in humans, this would give the body a chance to fight off the virus.

The active compound in the kola is what is known as a dimeric flavonoid, which is two flavonoid molecules fused together.

Flavonoids are non-toxic," he added.

Evidence-based medicine will tackle Ebola C O N T I N U E D f r om PA G E 2 7

What are the symptoms that a trained eye should look out for?

If you are sick, you cannot hide it. Even when you pretend to hide it, you cannot hide it. If you have fever and headache, anybody looking at you will observe it.

Even among my staff, when you come to me and you are not happy, I will know. As a doctor, I am also a psychologist. Even the way you talk gives message about you.

Then, I will begin to ask you one or two questions.

cannot go. So, you see, there are checks but some people will still slip through. That is where the problem is. If this Liberian that imported the EVD into Nigeria had been quarantined where he was coming from, these problems would have been prevented.

These things cannot happen in Europe. Once they spot you, they will tell you to move away from others. Before you know it, they will quarantine you but in Africa, they will say: "He is our brother. Why are you doing this to me?"

Are you saying the immigration officers need be trained on how to detect these things in travelers?

It is not immigration officers. It is the port authority. They need to be aware because they are the ones to refer the travelers to the port health officers. Passengers will cue to pass through immigration before travelling out. We have to create awareness among them.

Sir, what will happen if there is another suspicion of a suspected case of Ebola infection and another and yet another?

There is no end to it. The Ebola virus is very small. If you touch somebody, you wash your hands to protect yourself. If you do not wash your hands, you can put that same hand in your mouth. This is personal hygiene. Ebola virus is not transmitted by air.

Also, what about some people who may want to travel abroad for medical reason?

Let me tell you, if you are travelling abroad to treat Ebola, you cannot go because you will be so sick that you cannot.

Actually, before you enter any aircraft, you must get a medical report from a doctor and it is not just from any doctor.

You must go through the airline's doctor.

Unless he certifies that you can travel, you

What is the possibility of a vaccine to prevent this infection?

That is a long term. It is just like HIV, you will be surprised that work has started on it a long time ago. I am not aware of any possibility of vaccine for Ebola yet. If you look at literature, nobody is talking about vaccine yet but some people must be in the laboratory doing that work.

Exercise and physical therapies relief patients

R

heumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, morning stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint but is more common in fingers and wrists.

It is an auto-immune disease which means the arthritis results from the body’s immune system attacking body’s own tissues, seeing one’s body as something that is foreign.

No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis but family genes, environment (smoking, including secondary exposure especially in those with family genetic predisposition to RA, is a major environmental trigger to RA).

Body fluids (hormones) are suspected to play a part in the disease. It can start at any age but peaks between ages 25 and 55. It might also last a few months and go away for a long time or forever and sometimes (self limit) the affected person. It can also be very severe and crippling. Although being sick may bring on RA earlier in a person but no particular infection/or bacteria has been proven to cause RA. It affects more women than men, and heart disease is the most common cause of death in RA patients. There is increased risk with being female, drinking more than three cups of coffee a day, smoking, not having children, having menstruation early, having irregular menses and there is decreased risk for women who have had children, and those breast feeding. Pregnancy causes remission, use of oral contraceptive pills and vitamin E does not affect RA risk.

PRESENTATION Rheumatoid arthritis presents mostly with pain and stiffness in multiple joints, with early morning stiffness on waking up, lasting more than one hour, suggesting an inflammatory process. Unlike osteoarthritis, there is a boggy swelling of those joints with equal size of swelling, disfiguring the joints. Before the joint swelling, they have a very slowly developing joint weakness and over all, body tiredness, weight loss and low grade fever.

It progresses slowly but early damage can be seen as early as two years with joint space narrowing and ero-

Arthritic joints PHOTO medicine.net

sion and in about 10 years young patients are disabled to about 50 percent of the original functional level.

Most of those with RA are unable to keep a job and life expectancy can be lowered. Most patients will become anaemic and stay anaemic for the rest of their lives.

X-rays and blood work that looks for certain factors can be used to diagnose and treat RA, and be used to check effectiveness of treatment.

Early diagnoses and treatment help bring RA to remission. Special considerations during treatment are given to women of child-bearing age because many medications have bad side effects on pregnancy.

And when RA goes into remission, the predictors for prolonged remission are said to favour males, non smokers, those under age 40, and over age 65.

Signs that the disease will have a bad outcome are - if the disease has a very fast progression, affects multiple joints, early loss of function or if the disease comes on at a young age.

TREATMENT The goal of therapy includes minimising joint pain and swelling, preventing deformity and joint erosions, and of course maintaining quality of life (work and personal life).

Drug therapy for RA may involve anti-inflammatory agents, medically appropriate steroids and other medications aimed at delaying the progression of the disease.

Complimentary therapies include dietary interventions; exercise and physical therapies.

Joint replacement is indicated when there is severe joint damage and unsatisfactory control of symptoms by medical management.

fluids (hormones) are suspected to play a part in the disease. It can start at any age but peaks between ages 25 and 55. It might also last a few months and go away for a long time or forever and sometimes (self limit) the affected person

HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

W

hich would you prefer – the survival of a child or maintaining the standing features of youthful breast?

When this question was posed to a 30-year-old mother in the outskirts of Ikorodu, Lagos, her preference for a breast that would maintain its firmness did not surprise some women.

Sadly, many women shy away from taking responsibility to ensure exclusive breastfeeding for their kids in the first six months of the baby’s life.

Medical experts have blamed low rate of exclusive breastfeeding on denying babies breast milk for various reasons and failure to adopt effective breastfeeding practices including giving newborns water in addition to breast milk.

Less than half of the world's new-born benefit from breastfeeding and even fewer are exclusively breast fed for the first six months. The National Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate in Nigeria, though improved slightly from 13 percent in 2008 to 15 percent in 2011, MICS, (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey) and 17 percent in 2013, NDHS (National Demographic Health Survey, is still very low when compared with the great importance of breastfeeding to infants and young child growth and national development.

Similarly, the Lagos State Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate improved from 20 percent in 2008 to 28.1 percent (MICS) is also very unacceptable and requires continous propagation and support, said Dr. Yewande Adesina, the special adviser on public health in Lagos.

While lamenting the low incidence of exclusive breastfeeding being recorded in the country, Adesina laid part of the blame on the social trend to maintain shape and features of the female breast. She however urged mothers and caregivers to do the needful for the optimal development of their kids.

“There is a trend among our women to be westernised, she said at a news conference to announce the 2014 World Breastfeeding Week, which is marked worldwide from August 1 to 7.

She added that many women do not want their breasts to sag but noted that whether they liked it or not, the breasts will answer the call of gravity.

“As women advance in age, their breasts will certainly sag through natural processes,” the special adviser on public health said.

According to her, “Women are vein about their body and they do not want to do the needful for their children.”

On the contrary, Adesina said while most Nigerian women were running away from proper breastfeeding practices through negative illusive passion to maintain the shape for their breasts, “the world is going back to breast milk as the optimum feeding for infants”. Consequently, she urged the women to adopt exclusive breastfeeding as proposed by medical experts.

She reiterated that breastfeeding, particularly with early initiation; within 30 minutes of delivery and exclusive breastfeeding without water or any other drink, is the most ideal infant feeding option for every new born as colostrums; the first milk from the mother is the baby’s first immunisation.

Here, Adesina touches on another major issue especially for new nursing mothers.

Many rural and urban women practicing exclusive breastfeeding for their kids also give their babies water. For them, it is unthinkable that a baby would survive without water.

"How possible?", some of them have asked.

Dr. Adesina

29

Choosing between breasts' firmness and child's survival As the Nigeria joins the world community to mark the 2014 World Breastfeeding Week, giving priority to exclusive breastfeeding in line with best practices will pave the way for increased National Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate, writes APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

A woman breastfeeding her baby

Actually, it is not news that children being exclusively breastfedinthefirstsixmonthsof their lives should not be given water. This messagehasbeendisseminatedtomothers,fathers and caregivers many times but in practice, it has not been followed accordingly.

Rather than adopt the counsel best feeding practices for babies from community health extension workers (CHEWS), nurses and other medical staff who recommend exclusive breastfeeding for infants, majority of mothers listentoolderwives’talesandwrongteachings from their mothers, mother in laws, friends and relations, all with dire consequences for the kids.

Despitethepitfalls,breastfeedinginpractice and application is viewed as a human rights issue by several international organisations including UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Subsequently, breastfeeding week is set aside globally as one of the periods when mothers all over the world, as wellasglobalcommunityaresensitisedonthe importance and benefits of breastfeeding not onlythechild’sfamilybuttothenationatlarge.

AccordingtoUNICEF,exclusivebreastfeeding means that an infant receives only breast milk with no additional foods or liquids, not even water.

Breast milk is the only safe and reliable source of food for infants in an emergency. It meets all water requirements.

Breast milk is 88 percent water. Studies showthathealthy,exclusivelybreastfedinfants under six months old do not need additional fluids.

Offering water before six months of age to infants reduces breast milk intake, interferes with full absorption of breast milk nutrients and increases the risk of illness from contaminated water and feeding bottles.

Benefits of breast milk On the benefits, Adesina, said “breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal

Offering water before six months of age to infants reduces breast milk intake, interferes with full absorption of breast milk nutrients and increases the risk of illness from contaminated water and feeding bottles food for the healthy growth and development of infants. Breast milk meets the nutritional and anti-infection requirements of infants for optimal growth, development and survival, as such; it is an extremely essential component in the application of effective child survival strategy.

Saves lives Breastfeeding is the single most important intervention for preventing child deaths, yet less than 40 percent of infants under six months receive the benefits of exclusive breast feeding. Diarrhoea and Pneumonia are the leading causes of death among infants in developing countries.

Protects against illness Breast milk especially the first yellow thick milk called colostrum contains antibacterial and anti-viral agents and high levels of vitamin A that protects against diseases.

Promotes recovery of a sick child Breastfeeding provides a nutritious, easily digestible food when a sick child loses

his or her appetite for other foods. Continued breastfeeding during diarrhoea reduces dehydration, the severity and duration of diarrhoea and the risk of malnutrition.

Provides total food security Breast milk is a hygienic source of food with right amount of energy – protein, fat, vitamins, and other nutrients for infants in the first six months of a human life.

In addition, the act of breastfeeding also promotes love and bonding between mothers and their babies, which in turn improves the psychological well being of the mother and child.

Furthermore, breastfeeding promotes family planning if effectively carried out by the mother and supported by the family members, particularly the husband, Adesina said, adding, “When the baby suckles exclusively and on demand for a period of six months, the sustained secretion of prolacting helps in the inhibition of ovulation”.

The special adviser on public health said that the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Actions (WABA) has considered that everyone in the world should identify one way or the other, to protect and encourage every breastfeeding mother for an effective and pleasant breastfeeding experience and stressed that everybody should all be committed to promoting exclusive breastfeeding during which nothing except the mother’s breast milk is introduced to the mouth of the baby as a child survival intervention that is unequalled.

The theme of the 2014 World Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal - For Life!”

The theme is to draw attention to the critical race of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) particularly Goals 4 & 5 and to highlight the significant role of breastfeeding to the attainment of the MDGs.

30 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Lagoon Hospital performs first open-heart surgery Appolonia Adeyemi and Ebere Ameh

n another pioneering move by Lagoon Hospitals, a 59-year old professional successfully had a quadruple vessel coronary artery by-pass surgery on Friday July, 25.

The three-hour operation was performed at the ultra-modern operating theatre suites by the Cardiac Surgery Group led by Dr. Bode Falase who is a visiting cardiac surgeon at Lagoon Hospital and Dr. O.C. Nzewi, consultant cardiac surgeon at Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, United Kingdom (UK).

They were supported by cardiac anaesthetists, perfusionists, physiologists and operating theatre nurses.

I

There is an increasing incidence of coronary artery disease in Nigeria. The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart.

Partial blockage to these vessels result in chest pain (angina) and complete blockage may lead to heart attacks. Treatment could either be with unblocking of the arteries using cardiac catheterisation and stent insertion or in advanced cases coronary artery by-pass surgery.

Major Ganesh Kale (Rtd), chief executive officer of the hospital, said, “As the leading private hospital in Nigeria, we are committed to providing excellent care for our patients and would continue to ensure that complex operations like open heart surgery, major joint replacements and minimal ac-

cess surgery are available in Nigeria so that Nigerians do not need to travel abroad for these procedures”.

Also commenting on the successful commencement of open-heart surgery, the Group Clinical Adviser and Chief of Surgery, Dr Jimi Coker, stated that “Most of the open heart surgeries performed previously were done as part of cardiac missions with the whole team of health professionals flown in from abroad to do this.

At Lagoon Hospital, we performed this with a team of resident medical personnel except for one of the cardiac surgeons.

This would ensure that the program is sustainable”.

The leader of the Cardiac Surgery Group, Dr. Bode Falase,

thanked Lagoon hospitals for the opportunity to start this open-heart surgery programme.

He emphasised that open heart surgery requires a combination of skilled professionals as well as the right support and enabling environment which Lagoon Hospital has provided. The surgery and the care the patient received was therefore the same as would obtain in any other top health care facility abroad, making Lagoon Hospital a viable alternative to travelling abroad for the same open heart surgery.

Lagoon Hospitals group is the first hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa to earn accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI), an international endorser for excellence in clinical practices in patient care and safety.

The JCI seal at Lagoon Hospitals is a testimony of its commitment to quality and patient safety, which is achieved after an extended rigorous survey process by JCI, United States of America (USA).

Lagoon Hospitals group is part of the Hygeia Group, Nigeria’s foremost private integrated healthcare services provider, which also includes Hygeia HMO, Hygeia Community Health Care, and Hygeia Foundation. Lagoon Hospitals provide a range of primary to tertiary healthcare services across the five sites: Lagoon Hospital Apapa, Lagoon Hospital Awolowo Way Ikeja, Lagoon Clinic Adeniyi Jones Ikeja, Lagoon Specialist Suites and Lagoon Hospital Victoria Island.

NIMR boss says research will check Ebola virus

lTasks governments on hepatitis prevention, treatment Appolonia Adeyemi

n order to curb Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), hepatitis and other deadly diseases, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has called on the three tiers of government to increase budgetary allocation to health research and pave the way for appropriate research response that could unlock secretes of the deadly virus with a view to contain it.

Prof. Innocent Ujah, director general, NIMR, who made the call in Lagos, also called on governments and good spirited individuals to provide facilities to upgrade NIMR’s Human Virology Laboratory (HVL) to effectively conduct research into the Ebola virus disease with the aim of generating new information on the deadly virus.

He spoke at the occasion of NIMR’s commemoration of 2014 World Hepatitis Day which is marked on July 28, to call for change in attitude to viral hepatitis.

According to Ujah, “research on Ebola should be intensified in Nigeria. We must invest in health research if we must make any headway in quality healthcare.”

He noted that United States (U.S.) National Institute of Health (NIH), spends up to $36 billion U.S. dollars on research.

I

L-R: Medical Director, Lagoon Hospitals, Dr. Mowa Falase; Group Clinical Adviser and Head of Surgery Lagoon Hospitals, Dr. Jimi Coker; Lagoon Hospitals CEO, Major Ganesh Kale (Rtd); and Visiting Cardiac Surgeon at Lagoon Hospitals, Dr. Bode Falase at the news conference to announce the hospital's first open heart surgery held in Lagos recently

BEARS transforms to Body Enhancement Foundation

A

fter Body Enhancement Limited pioneered cosmetic surgery to Nigeria in 2001, the organisation founded its charity arm, BEARS Foundation, in 2003 which brought to the spot light plights of children in need of life changing reconstructive surgery but couldn’t afford to pay for their expensive reconstructive procedures.

The acronym BEARS represents: “Body Enhancement Annual Reconstructive Surgery”.

According to the Founder of BEARS Foundation and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Body Enhancement Limited, Princess Modupe Ozolua, in addition to the name change, Body Enhancement Foundation now has a new Board of Trusteess including Dr. Paul Orhii, director general, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC), Kabiru Turaki, SAN, Minister of Special Duties, Edith Jubunoh (Adviser, World Bank, USA), and Prince Oluwaseun Ozolua.

The new website address of the organisation is: www.b-efoundation.org.

Ozolua said due to pleas for much needed help from countless potential beneficiaries, Body Enhancement Foundation will now commence more public missions in Nigeria.

Through BEARS Foundation, modern day medical technology, technique and skills are used to

safely perform reconstructive surgical procedures to restore the lives of thousands of underprivileged people suffering from different types of physical congenital, developmental deformities; such as, Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF), cleft lip, cleft palate, burns and lacerations, cataract extractions, hernias, removal of tumors, cysts and fibroid. All procedures performed are at no cost to neither the beneficiaries nor their families.

Considering lack of proper education, poor nutrition, inaccessibility to proper medical care are some critical factors that contribute to many deformities and are also the primary drivers of HIV/AIDS susceptibility; the organisation also offers educational programs and free testing to promote awareness, counseling and immunisation for infants and children.

In addition, the NGO sends funds to hospitals all over the country to pay for medical bills of patients that can not afford to pay for their medical care.

According to the Founder of BEARS Foundation and CEO of Body Enhancement Ltd, Princess Modupe Ozolua, as BEARS Foundation is the charity arm of Body Enhancement Limited, it was decided the name should clearly state that; hence the change of name. All activities of the NGO remains the same and beneficiaries will continue to receive free corrective surgi-

cal treatment.

Princess Ozolua further states in recent years, the organization did not stop conducting humanitarian activities in Nigeria. Although it didn’t hold national medical missions, it quietly supported other NGOs and continuously paid medical bills for patients in hospitals that couldn’t afford to pay for medical care. During those years, the foundation has been actively doing medical missions in different countries in Africa, such as Ethiopia, Mali, Niger Republic and Zambia and Tanzania.

Consequently, he reasoned that the two percent being proposed for health research out of health budget in Nigeria “should be increased so that we can appropriately respond”. He assured that Nigeria has both the capacity and the manpower to be able to appropriately respond to various health researches.

The director general of NIMR said health research and other types research are capital intensive. “We must invest in it,” he stressed.

He therefore appealed to Nigerians who are well to do and governments to support health research and other form of research “because it is only through research that we can make progress”. With regards to hepatitis, the world’s eight biggest killer, Ujah while urging Nigerians to screen themselves to know their hepatitis status, called for access to hepatitis treatment, better prevention programmes and governments’ action.

In addition, he lamented that viral hepatitis is remarkably neglected and therefore, little attention is paid to its prevalence, treatment, control and prevention. “Meanwhile, this virus is much more infectious than Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),” he said.

Nigerian Heart Foundation endorses Sunola Soya oil Oluwatosin Omoniyi

he Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) has endorsed Sunola Soya Oil as an heart friendly edible oil.

Speaking at the occasion of public presentation of the new Label of Sunola Soya oil with an NHF Logo to Sunola Foods Limited, Emeritus professor Akinkugbe, president of the foundation, expressed his satisfaction about Sunola’s efforts at bringing a heart friendly product to the Nigerian Consumers.

He attributed the several heart diseases being experienced in the country to what people eat, lack of exercise

T

and a lifestyle that promotes unhealthy living.

He thus advised that people should make simple lifestyle changes rather than depending on sophisticated medicine to combat diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Similarly, he called on Nigerians who are conscious of their wellbeing to eat heart friendly products such as those endorsed by the NHF. Also speaking, Tarun Das, Managing Director of Sunola Foods Limited expressed his company’s commitment to producing world standard quality edible oil that will promote good healthy condi-

tions for the Nigerian families. Manoj Nambiar, General Manager of Sunola Foods Limited, explained that Sunola Soya Oil is the best in its category. “It is cholesterol free and promotes healthy life of its consumers.”

Stating that unlike several other vegetable oils that congeals at a temperature lower that 20 degree room temparature, Sunola does not congeal even when kept inside a freezer.

He challenged anyone to take Sunola Soya oil to any laboratory at any part of the world to confirm the nutritional value stated on the pack.

BUSINESS Thursday, AUGUST 7, 2014

What's news Senate C'ttee lauds Benin Disco’s $265m planned investment The Senate has commended the move by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to inject the sum of $265 million (N42.5 billion) into its business operation over a period of time.

}p-32

Release names of capitalised PMBs, stakeholders tell CBN Over seven months after the expiration of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s deadline to the Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) to recapitalise, core estate developers in the country have joined other operators in calling for the release of names of mortgage banks that crossed the hurdle.

}p-32

Nigeria’s business confidence down 5.1% The 3rd quarter 2014 Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s aggregate Business Confidence Index (BCI) has dropped from 19.4 per cent it posted in Q2-2014 to 14.3 per cent.

}p-34

Telecom: Towers firms emerge as new force When the Nigerian government opened up the telecommunications industry in 2001 through the issuance of digital mobile licences to three companies, little did people know that a new industry- telecommunication infrastructure provision- will emerge from the process.

}p-37

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

31 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

}p-36 ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

Helios Towers to raise $250m for operations INDEPENDENT TOWERS Half of Africa’s towers will have been transferred from mobile network operators to independent tower firms by the end of 2015 Jonah Iboma

H

elios Towers Nigeria has stated its intention to raise $250 millon through bonds.

According to details obtained by New Telegraph, the bonds have a five-year maturity at 8.375 per cent and matures on July 15, 2019. Lead Manager is Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

According to TMT Finance, Helios would use the cash for refinancing purposes and new tower acquisitions - currently, three mobile operators are in the process of selling towers in Nigeria. The issue was made through a fully-owned Dutch finance subsidiary, Helios Towers Finance Netherlands B.V. Nigeria-based Tower Company, Helios Towers Nigeria and Tower Infrastructure Company Limited guaranteed the notes.

The bond is only the second corporate bond from Nigeria, with more now expected to follow. Reports say the sole book runner, BAML, apparently approached investors with pricing at 8.5 per cent, before settling on 8.375 per cent. One banker said the pricing appeared too aggressive from the investor perspective, but said it was a positive move for Helios Towers Nigeria.

“HTN is highly leveraged, so this issue will help improve its profile and offer increased liquidity, which is important given that we are at tipping point in Nigeria’s tower company market,” one banker commented, according to TMT Finance.

“HTN is in a strong position to consolidate by acquiring more towers, but it’s also

L-R: Country Commercial Manager, British Airways, West Africa, Kola Olayinka; Winner of British Airways Leaders of Tomorrow, Fajemisin Peter and Chief Executive Officer, British Airways, Keith Williams, at the presentation of certificate to the top six Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, students, who successfully completed the inaugural British Airways’ Leaders of Tomorrow Programme in Nigeria and United Kingdom, at British Airways global office, London Heathrow.

feasible that we may see a new towerco entrant, which could have an impact on the current players in Nigeria – especially if they do not acquire via the current assets in play.”

With over 1,000 towers, Helios Towers Nigeria is Nigeria’s

second largest independent tower company. Meanwhile, Michel Faivre, Director, Orange, has said that the number of tower companies in Africa was simply not enough to meet current demand.

According to details released

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

at a recent tower conference, Faivre said that the four major tower firms were incapable of meeting the market demands in Africa.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Airtel Africa handles over $2bn transactions PROFIT Telecom operator records improved performance through mobile money

B

harti Airtel has said that it handled over $2 billion mobile money transaction on its networks across the continent in the first quarter of 2014. According to the details

obtained by New Telegraph, the firm said that the numbers highlight how its African subscribers have taken to mobile money with enthusiasm. The situation, according to the firm, has turned its business around and a major reason for the development is the increasing availability of bandwidth and better mobile technologies that are making data transmission faster.

“Telecoms are back to growth in Africa, this time spearheaded

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

Dangote: Looking beyond cement, sugar, flour

by Internet and mobile money.

Airtel has grown by 12.1 per cent in constant currency terms, with exceptional performance in Mobile Data (+85.5 per cent).

Airtel Money transaction values have increased by 4.9 times to $2.2 billion in this quarter,” said Christian de Faria, MD and CEO, Africa.

The total number of Airtel money subscribers in Africa have increased more than threeCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE June 2014................................8.2% May 2014....................................8% April 2014.................................7.9%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Aug 01)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N168.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N290 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N228 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $38.942bn as at 24/07/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Aug 01)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N263.12 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N209.70 Source: CBN

32

BUSINESS | NEWS

CHALLENGE Sixty per cent of consumers do not pay their bills estimated at N1.8 billion monthly Adeola Yusuf

T

he Senate has commended the move by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to inject $265 million (N42.5 billion) into its business operation over a period of time.

It also praised the distribution company for the progress made in its business operation

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Senate lauds Benin Disco’s $265m planned investment Chairman, Senate Committee on Commercialisation and Privatisation, Senator Gbenga Obadara, made these commendations during an assessment of the distribution company's operations in Benin, Edo State capital.

Specifically, he said that BEDC's planned investment would create a "monumental growth" in the company's efforts to bring value to it numerous customers.

He noted that the BEDC, which covers four states - Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Delta, had increased the distribution of electricity to its areas of coverage since it took over on November 1, 2014.

The senator said that the committee's visit was to encourage the investors to do what was needed and to ascertain the level of conformity with the agreement they signed.

Obadara, who decried the

L-R: Human Resources Manager, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr Tunde Adebayo; Trade Marketing Manager, Mr Dayo Adeniyi and Head Miller, MrBoniface Isunuoya, at the 25th Honeywell Baking School graduation ceremony in Lagos.

Release names of capitalised PMBs, stakeholders tell CBN UNCERTAINTY Fate of home seekers and real estate businesses in Nigeria hangs in the balance Dayo Ayeyemi

O

ver seven months after the expiration of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s deadline to the Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) to recapitalise, core estate developers in the country have joined other operators in calling for the release of names of mortgage banks that crossed the hurdle.

The PMBs were required to recapitalise to N5 billion and N2.5 billion depending on the scope of their operations.

Worried about speculations making the rounds, President of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Bode Afolayan, called on CBN to release the names of recapitalised Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs), saying that the delay is crippling the sector's businesses.

Apart from real estate developers, major operators in the mortgage finance industry have also expressed concerns over the refusal of the banking watchdog to announce

the names of qualified PMBs, though some of them claimed to have received a memo from the apex bank that they scaled through.

Such information is, however, considered classified until the CBN announces it to the general public, the President of the Mortgage Banks Association of Nigeria, Mr Femi Johnson, told New Telegraph.

Johnson had enjoined members of the public in doubt of any PMB to transact business with to contact the head office of MBAN on Broad Street, Lagos for verification.

However, Afolayan, the REDAN boss wondered how the apex bank wanted the developers to do business without knowing the mortgage banks that scaled through the recapitalisation process.

Afolayan urged CBN to, as a matter of urgency, publish the names of the recapitalised PMBs and educate the public on the status of mortgage banks in Nigeria.

“This will ensure that the sub-sector is not allowed to be driven unnecessarily into crisis,” he said.

He disclosed that the association was aware that only a few of the mortgage banks crossed over to national level, while others remain at regional levels as at April 30, adding that the association was also aware that a few of the mortgage banks were given concession up to June 30.

There were speculations that only 10 mortgage banks met the N5 billion capital base to operate at the national level, while 16 met N2.5 billion to operate at state levels.

Airtel Africa handles over $2bn transactions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

fold to 4.3 million, compared to 1.3 million in the same quarter last year.

According to details, the number of transactions made during the period were 97.7 million, which is 3.8 times higher than the 26 million reported last year.

Airtel has been struggling in its African operations and the current development is seen as

welcome development. The current quarter again showed that mobile money services are very popular, although such services are growing from a low base having been launched relatively recently.

Overall, the firm reported solid figures for the quarter, although strength in its home market of India contrasted with a poorer performance for its African operations.

level of electricity theft among consumers, power vandalism and the reluctance of some communities to pay their electricity bills, said that the Senate would encourage BEDC to make the financial commitment to check some of its challenges.

The Senate Committee Chairman further commended the distribution company for creating a convenient way of relating with it various customers and urged it to establish efficient and diplomatic measures for the collection of electricity bills.

"I believe that the additional investment BEDC promised to bring into its operation, would bring monumental development and a phenomenal growth to the power industry.

"We want to encourage them to do it because there is a lot of power theft, vandalism; it is a big problem," he said.

He stated that the Senate was aware that the challenges facing the electricity company were enormous but assured that they were surmountable.

The Chairman noted that Nigerians were expecting a great improvement in power from the new investors that took over from the 17 distribution companies.

He noted that Nigerians wanted to see huge investment from the buyers because, in the first instance, the government saw that it could not meet up with the investment needed, which the buyers had the capacity to do.

"These we are doing and collating all the data we are having from every one of them (the investors) for a thorough input and making sure that all funds are available to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, which is the weakest link of the whole process.

"These we are also doing as senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this we are doing as responsible committee in the Senate and we are desirous of one thing; we want to make sure the right things are

done.”

Earlier, in her presentation indicating the achievements and challenges, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, BEDC, Mrs Funke Osibodu, disclosed that in the company had within seven months of its operation, improved on its customer process for better services.

Besides, she said the current management has mapped and rehabilitated all 33kv feeders and identified the need for training of its entire technical staff with the establishment of a training school.

Other achievements she mentioned include in the area of metering under the CAPMI programme, establishment of distribution TR maintenance and repairs workshop.

Additionally, the BEDC boss said the distribution company has established a structured partnership with Elizade University in Ilara-Mokin, which is the first of its kind in the power industry, adding that the aim was to direct more students to power engineering courses with practical approach.

"This strategic partnership is similar to international set standards such as; the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) partnership with Khalifa University," she stressed.

However, the BEDC CEO said there are challenges facing the company, which she listed as high level of power theft, limited power supply, transmission bottlenecks and limited capacity to distribute power.

Mrs. Osibodu said 200,000 of its customers were currently on estimated bill, adding that the BEDC planned to recruit independent accounting firms to review those on estimated billing with a view to getting it right.

She disclosed that 60 per cent of electricity consumers do not pay their bills, which she estimated at N1.8billion monthly.

Helios Towers to raise $250m CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

Commenting on the current plethora of opportunities in the sector, Faivre said that there was still room for new entrants in the space, and argued that there was room for up to six towercos in Africa: “Four players is now not enough from our perspective. In some of the larger countries two is a good number of towercos, so, five or six players across Africa could be useful in order to meet demand,” he said.

Meanwhile, a research organization, TowerXchange, has said that half of Africa’s towers will have been transferred from mobile network operators to independent tower companies by the end of 2015, The trend confirms that the independent tower company business model has achieved

‘launch velocity’ in Africa.

"Since the first deal in 2010, 18 per cent of Africa’s 160,000 telecom towers have been transferred from Mobile Network Operators to independent tower companies. TowerXchange forecasts that tower companies will own or operate 38.8 per cent of Africa’s towers by year end 2014, and more than 50per cent by the end of 2015,” said Kieron Osmotherly, Chief Executive Officer, TowerXchange.

According to Developing Telecoms, a technology research firm, over $2 billion has been invested in African tower transactions over the past four years. The firm noted that African independent tower companies have been raising even more capital in anticipation of a further $3 billion worth of assets being sold before the end of this year.

33

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

FactFile l Nigeria’s consumer market is worth about $400 billion per year and could reach $1.4 trillion by 2030, with food and nonfood consumer goods accounting for $1 trillion of the total. l Nigeria is still far behind other major developing economies. At less than $9,500 per worker per year, Nigerian output is 58 percent less than the average of seven large developing economies. l In Nigeria, the employment-to-population ratio is only 31 percent, compared with 52 percent in Brazil, 46 percent in Indonesia, and 48 percent in Russia.8 Due to its low productivity and its low employment ratio, Nigeria has the lowest GDP per capita of seven peer economies.

US imports from AGOA countries hits $26 billion, says envoy Improving AGOA is critical because despite the concrete benefits that AGOA has brought to both of our continents, it is clear that more can and must be done Siaka Momoh

F

rom year 2000 when AGOA was enacted to date, US imports from AGOA countries have grown threefold to more than $26 billion, Ambassador Michael Froman, United States Trade Representative at the opening of the US/Africa leadership summit currently holding in Washington DC, has said.

Besides, he said non-oil imports have also increased fourfold, as has the stock of US foreign direct investment.

He said: “AGOA has been the cornerstone of US trade policy with subSaharan Africa, and in broad strokes, it has been a success”.

He noted that the United States has benefitted from AGOA as well, not just from the stability that comes with increased global prosperity, but also from the market opportunities that accompany Africa’s rise.

“Since 2000, US exports to sub-Saharan Africa have increased fourfold, from $6 billion to $24 billion. Last year, these exports helped support nearly 120,000 American jobs, and as Africa continues to grow, our economic futures will become even more intertwined,” he said.

For Froman, AGOA has contributed to the diversification and competiveness of sub-Saharan Africa’s economies and has supported hundreds of

thousands of jobs across the continent. “And what these broad strokes cannot capture is the importance of these opportunities for countless communities, families, and individuals,” he said.

He said indeed, Africa’s trajectory means that the theme of this week’s historic summit, “Investing in the Next Generation,” applies as much to the United States as it does to Africa.

Froman argued: “Our shared future will be made brighter by an AGOA that is not only renewed but also improved. Seamless renewal will send an important signal to purchasers of AGOA products and investors in AGOA industries who are already making decisions about next year, and in some cases, many years in the future. The sooner we renew our commitment, the more likely they will do the same.

“Improving AGOA is critical because despite the concrete benefits that AGOA has brought to both of our continents, it is clear that more can and must be done. Although non-oil exports under AGOA have increased by fourfold since 2001, last year’s total of $5 billion remains small both in absolute terms and as a share of US imports. And while we are seeing countries starting to branch out and use AGOA for more

Our shared future will be made brighter by an AGOA that is not only renewed but also improved

products, there is still much room to grow in non-oil, manufactured and value-added products from AGOAeligible countries.”

He said improving AGOA requires adapting to the changes that have occurred since the year 2000, applying the lessons we have learned, and anticipating where current trends will take us. “To begin with, it’s clear that the Africa of 2014 is not the Africa of 2000. Many of you are moving away from unilateral preferences and entering into agreements with trading partners such as the European Union, which provide for reciprocal access.

Going forward, we cannot think about AGOA in isolation.”

He explained, that’s why, for the past year, the US has conducted a review of AGOA that asked not only how AGOA was working but also how it fits into the broader arc of their trade and development policy. “Our efforts relied on the input of US and African stakeholders in government, the private sector, and civil society,” he said.

According to Froman, “Among our findings, one observation is clearer than the rest: to unlock AGOA’s true potential, we need to do more than focus on tariff preferences. In our view, AGOA must be linked to a broader, comprehensive coordinated trade and development strategy. What we are calling for is an “AGOA Compact” – a whole-of-government trade and investment strategy supported by the public and private sectors on both continents and backed by our international partners. With the outline of this compact in mind, today’s Forum provides an extraordinary opportunity to begin filling in the details and charting a common course toward trade-led growth and development.

l One of the most important under-appreciated changes in Nigeria is the growing size and strength of its consuming class.

While median income is just $680 per year and 43 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, the number of households in the consuming class is growing rapidly. l Nigeria’s consuming class could grow to 160 million in 2030 in a population of 273 million - more consumers than the current populations of France and Germany combined.3 Sales of consumer goods could more than triple by 2030, to almost $1 trillion. l Nigeria is projected to have the eighthhighest absolute sales growth in the world for bottled water from 2012 to 2020. Capturing this opportunity will require a granular approach to market opportunities-selecting the right cities and the right timing, while developing the key capabilities required to operate successfully in Nigeria. l While the oil and gas sector has many opportunities to improve productivity, the large share of the economy that exists outside oil and gas is where the productivity gap to other countries emerges. l Every non-resources sector of the economy has lower productivity in Nigeria than in South Africa. In some sectors, the gap is particularly striking. In the manufacturing sector, for example, Nigerian output is just $5,100 per worker per year, while it is more than $27,000 in South Africa. l In trade, productivity is a third of South African levels and within utilities; an area where Nigeria has long underinvested, productivity is just 18 percent of the level in South Africa. l One misconception, often held by those outside Nigeria, is that oil and gasis the dominant sector and the engine of growth in the Nigerian economy, as it is with several Middle Eastern economies.

The recent rebasing exercise demonstrates that the natural resources sector is a smaller share of the economy than previously understood.

34

BUSINESS | INDUSTRY

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Nigeria’s business confidence down 5.1% However, all sectors reported positive business confidence levels in Q3-2014 Siaka Momoh

T

he 3rd quarter 2014 Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s aggregate Business Confidence Index (BCI) has dropped from 19.4 per cent posted in Q2-2014 to 14.3 per cent.

This represents 5.1 per cent point slack of the confidence level among business operators over the last three months, according to report just released by Lagos Chamber.

The index had fluctuated over the last two quarters (10.5 per cent in Q1 and 19.4 per cent in Q2, 2014). The drop of the BCI scores at this time suggests that business leaders

are largely pessimistic about expanding their investment over the next few months.

According to the report, “Nigeria’s BCI scores over the years continue to trail below the 50 per cent global business confidence threshold. Investors and business leaders remain wary about the state of the economy and the challenging business environment.

The key factors that mostly depressed the confidence level of business leaders at this time are; security challenges across the country, political transition/electioneering activities and associated risks; cargo clearing issues and access to and from the nation’s foremost ports – Apapa and Tin Can; Policy uncertainties and regulatory concerns; and worsening public power supply.”

It however notes that all the sectors reported positive business confidence levels in Q3-

2014. Says the report: “Interestingly, the manufacturing sector posted a positive confidence level of 4 per cent for the second time over the last seven quarters. This sector has consistently remained at the bottom of BCI league table by steadily recording negative confidence levels. Medium and small manufacturing enterprises are the most hit by the lingering challenges constraining productive activities in the country. The most disturbing factor for manufacturers includes: power supply challenges, logistics challenges, the influx of imported and substandard products, preference for imported goods by Nigerians, poor access to credit, high cost of doing business, infrastructure shortcoming and inhibitive activities of government regulatory/monitoring agencies.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

Steel plant

Bad business etiquette can cost you business

E

very word spoken on the phone, every e-mail sent and every meeting attended reflects on you and your company.

When the employees involved in these interactions lack business -etiquette skills, they may result in lost leads and cold deals.

While often overlooked, proper business etiquette is vital to the success of your company.

In today’s marketplace, where business is conducted through e-mail, social media, phone calls and in-person meetings, business etiquette training is a way to ensure your company and reputation remain intact.

In a recent article appearing on CBS Moneywatch, Steve

Strauss highlighted six business etiquette blunders as the most offensive including email etiquette flubs, tardiness and dress code bloopers.

“If it is true that business etiquette is simply the use of commonly accepted social norms, then by not using them you are sending a signal that casualness is a main priority in your business, and that is probably not the message you want to be sending, especially in this economic environment,” Strauss said.

While poor business etiquette may not lead to expensive litigation or federal law violation, it can lead to lost revenue and dwindling busi-

ness connections. By providing business-etiquette training on common topics, you establish consistency within the workplace, which reflects in your dealings with business contacts and ultimately on you.

What is the cost of bad business etiquette? Why find out? Through proper businessetiquette training, employees can learn the basics of workplace etiquette and the skills to represent your company as a place that puts business needs first. Make a good impression the first time and you'll get another chance at business with your clients.

• Source: wecomply.com

Enterprise with

Strokes

Siaka Momoh

siakamomoh@yahoo.com 08061396410

Obama had to do it

O

bama had to do it. He had to draw Africa close; not because he is African by origin. His move is part of the geo-politics at play; it is competition for sphere of influence in Africa – the next investment destination - by two world largest economies. And there is nothing wrong about this.

The other day, a few years back, David Cameron, British Prime Minister, came calling.

He delivered a speech at the Pan African University’s Business School, Lagos, as part of his one-day visit to Nigeria. He also held bilateral talks with President Jonathan alongside key government functionaries at the State House, Marina.

His speech focused on three areas of concern: Delivering aid rightly, growing private enterprise and trade, and long-term political reform.

Regarding private enterprise and trade, one thing came out clearly - UKis worried about China’s robust investment in Nigeria and Africa, and would want the worrisome situation reversed. David Cameron, that Tuesday, opened up on this issue to a cross section of informed Nigerians, at Pan African University.

Need to catch up with China Said Cameron: “Today, Britain accounts for less than four percent of Africa’s exports.

That’s almost three times less than China – and one of the reasons I’m here is to make sure we catch up. It’s why I’ve brought a plane full of business leaders. And it’s why we want to do more to extend loan guarantees and trade finance to British companies that are looking to do business in Africa; because we see Africa in a new way, a different way.

Yes, a place to invest our aid; but above all a place to trade.”

In recent years, we have witnessed a robust entry of Chinese and South African businesses into Nigeria. Chinese trade relations and other business interests in Nigeria, like in some other parts of Africa, have shot up. The Chinese trade in textiles, garments and a long list of general goods.

They are in oil and gas and solid mineral businesses.

They are also into road and rail construction works. According to World Bank Weekly Report for July 7, 2008, Sino-African trade exploded from $2 billion in 1999 to $55.5 billion in 2006 and $73 billion in 2007, growing faster than Chinese trade with the rest of the world, and making a significant contribution to China’s success. Nigeria comes in big as that part of Africa that the Chinese are interested in.

UK Trade & Investment It is therefore expected that UK, a traditional ally of Nige-

ria would not sit by and allow Nigeria’s new-found friends to corner the businesses it hitherto controlled. This was perhaps why UK Trade & Investment hosted commercial officers from South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Angola,Ghana and Nigeria in Lagos few years back.

US/African confab The US/African conference, which held between August 4 and 6, 2014 cannot be unconnected with this thinking, other motives may hold though. The truth is that the U.S. and China, the two world largest economies are vying for influence in Africa like Britain is doing too.

Africa’s thriving markets “The importance of this for America needs to be understood,” Obama said at an August 1 news conference. “Africa is growing and you’ve got thriving markets and you’ve got entrepreneurs and extraordinary talent among the people there.”

Trade and business, he said, “that’s the kind of relationship Africa is looking for.”

Hitherto, it has been strong focus on aids, support. According to commentators, Obama’s two immediate predecessors had a single policy achievement that defined their approach to the region. In the case of Bill Clinton, it was the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which reduced some trade barriers between the two partners.

For George W. Bush, it was the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The administration has continued those two programmes while beginning initiatives to promote food security, electrification, training for young leaders and regional trade between African nations.

As an African by birth, the son of a Kenyan father, Obama faced high expectations from Africans and specialists in the region when he became president.

His friends and foes say he disappointed many Africans in his first term when he focused largely on the struggling US economy and on passing a far-reaching health-care law. The reigning argument is that Obama’s approach to Africa has been more reactive than proactive.

The World Bank projects a 5.2 percent growth rate for subSaharan Africa this year, driven by rising investment in natural resources and infrastructure, and strong household spending. With the summit, Obama aims to institutionalize the move from a model of delivering aid to spurring development and trade as the main path for lifting Africans out of poverty.

We are talking of about $1 billion business deal in an event involving President Obama and State officials, business chieftains from about 200 companies from U.S. and Africa.

BUSINESS | INDUSTRY 35

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

CONSUMPTION One of the most important underappreciated changes in Nigeria is the growing size and strength of its consuming class Siaka Momoh

‘Nigeria’s consumer market worth $400bn per year' • Can hit $1.4 trn by year 2030

T

oday, Nigeria’s consumer market is worth about $400 billion per year and could reach $1.4 trillion by 2030, with food and non-food consumer goods accounting for $1 trillion of the total, McKenzie Global Institute (MGI) latest report has revealed.

Says the report: “One of the most important under-appreciated changes in Nigeria is the growing size and strength of its consuming class. While median income is just $680 per year and 43 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, the number of households in the consuming class is growing rapidly.”

In 2013, an estimated eight million households had income of more than $7,500 per year— the threshold for what McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) considers as “emerging consumers”, with sufficient income to meet all basic necessities and have money to start buying more and better food as well as health and education services.

The report explains: “Given Nigeria’s large population and rapid population growth, it is often assumed that labour-force changes (the number of people entering the workforce every year) are the main driver of GDP growth. However, labour productivity has grown by 3.6 percent per year since 2010 and now contributes the greatest share of GDP growth.

“However, while labour productivity has been improving, Nigeria is still far behind other major developing economies.

At less than $9,500 per worker per year, Nigerian output is 58 per cent less than the average of seven large developing

Protests rock African leaders' meeting undreds of protesters gathHpartment ered outside the US State Deon Monday, the start

of a summit meeting of over 40 African heads of state, to denounce some of the leaders as “torturers” and “killers”, New York Times reported.

US/Africa trade and investment conference is holding in Washinton D C. The protesters, who were mostly from Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, said they were angry that the White House was looking to enhance economic ties with repressive governments.

The protesters, who were mostly from Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

A Nigerian supermarket

economies. Nigeria also has a low ratio of employment to population. In Nigeria, the employment-to-population ratio is only 31 per cent, compared with 52 per cent in Brazil, 46 per cent in Indonesia, and 48 per cent in Russia. Due to its low productivity and its low employment ratio, Nigeria has the lowest GDP per capita of seven peer economies.”

According to MGI, Nigeria’s low productivity is, to a large degree, the result of its unusual experience with urbanisation, which is not transforming the

economy in the way it has done in other transitioning nations.

“Typically, as people move from agriculture into employment in urban manufacturing and services, they become more productive and earn higher wages, which raises living standards in both the city and the countryside. High urban wages attract more workers to the cities and reduce rural populations.

City dwellers send remittances to their families at home, who invest in productivity improvements, such as fertiliser and mechanised tools,” it argues.

“However, in Nigeria, people migrating to the city often face unemployment or find jobs in the informal sector, where wages are low. This, for MGI, also has negative implications for the agriculture sector,” the report says.

Productivity is also being held back by poor infrastructure, which increases the costs of doing business. The “core infrastructure” stock in Nigeria is worth only 39 percent of GDP, compared with an average of 68 percent in other economies examined by MGI. Nigeria has

a fifth of the roads per kilometre that India has and one-third the power generation capacity per person.

It says one misconception, often held by those outside Nigeria, is that oil and gas is the dominant sector and the engine of growth in the Nigerian economy, as it is with several Middle Eastern economies.

“The recent rebasing exercise demonstrates that the natural resources sector is a smaller share of the economy than previously understood,” the report argues.

Nigeria’s aggregate business confidence falls C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

“The financial sector (banks, e-payment operators, finance houses and BDCs) continues to top the league table of business optimism with 32 per cent BCI score in Q3-2014. Impressive corporate reported for the period ended June 30 2014 and the recovery of the nationalized banks contributed significantly to the sustenance of optimism among the financial sector op-

erators. Notwithstanding, how much the ongoing regulatory induced recapitalization of the Bureau De Chance (BDC) and finance companies will impact the finance sector will be seen over the subsequent quarters.”

It notes that the optimism among players in the agricultural sector which was relatively strong in 1st and 2nd quarter is beginning to moderate. “This is a pointer that operators expectation in the agricultural sector

Sector BCI Scores Q3-2014

Q2-2014

Q1-2014

Hotel & Restaurant

21%

19%

14%

Telecoms / Postal

21%

16%

NIL

Oil & Gas

9%

14%

4%

Finance & Insurance

32%

26%

23%

Professional Services

13%

15%

10%

Others

14%

18%

22%

Distributive Trade

20%

12%

17%

Agriculture

8%

24%

13%

Building & Construction

8%

15%

5%

Manufacturing

4%

4%

-10%

is beginning to wane. The BCI Q3-2014 survey confirmed an increasing level of uncertainty among the private sector players due to rising electioneering activities and the build up to the 2015 general elections.”

It notes the following uncertainties in the business environment: Operators in the oil and gas industry are mostly disturbed by the uncertainty surrounding delayed passage of the PIB coupled with the emerging developments in the global oil and gas market. The long delay of Federal Government’s 2014 budget, influx and rising patronage of offshore advisers and business consultants in the country were mostly the concern of players in the professional business services sector; Security challenges across the country, issues of double taxation, industry regulation and monitoring issues are on the top of concerns for operators in the IT/Telecom sector; Business leaders in the financial services sector mentioned

macroeconomic fluctuations, policy uncertainty and issues concerning implementation of the new CBN Governor agenda are key sources of concern to them; The agricultural sector is mostly troubled by poor access to credit, infrastructure shortcoming, weak agricultural-industry linkages, transport and logistics constraints and concerns over the inclusiveness of FG’s ongoing agricultural transformation initiative.

Others include manufacturers especially the SMEs key challenges include: cost and access to credit, influx of fake and substandard products.

Preferences for foreign manufactured goods, regulatory infractions and worsening public power supply; Building and construction industry confirmed that the new policy on the grade of cement, poorcredit conditions, delayed payment of contractors and increasing security challenges are issues that affect their business and investing activities.

36 BUSINESS | INDUSTRY

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Industry chieftain

Dangote: Looking beyond cement, sugar, flour NEW TURF Africa's richest man is looking beyond the commodities that built his fortune. Oil and affiliated businesses is it!

A

liko Dangote started business as trader at 21 with a loan from his uncle. He went on to build his Dangote Group into a conglomerate with interests in sugar, flour milling, salt processing, cement manufacturing, textiles, real estate, haulage, oil and gas, steel, among others.

Africa's richest man is looking beyond cement, sugar and flour - the three commodities that built his fortune - to the oil business. In April, he announced $9 billion in financing from a consortium of local and international lenders to construct a private oil refinery, fertilizer and petrochemical complex in the country. His publicly traded Dangote Cement is also grabbing new markets in Africa, with $750 million in new plants planned for Kenya and Niger.

According to Forbes, Dangote, Africa’s richest man and Nigeria’s first billionaire, as of

March 2014, had an estimated net worth of $25 billion. Dangote is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the 23rd richest person in the world and the richest man in Africa.

Established in May 1981 as a trading business with an initial focus on cement, Dangote Group diversified over time into a conglomerate trading in cement, sugar, flour, salt and fish. By the early 1990s, Dangote Group had grown into one of the largest trading conglomerates operating in the country and the largest cement plant in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 1999, following the transition to civilian rule and after an inspirational visit to Brazil to study the emerging manufacturing sector, the Dangote Group made a strategic decision to transit from a tradingbased business into a fully fledged manufacturing operation. In a country where imports constitute the vast majority of consumer goods, a clear gap existed for a manufacturing operation that could meet the 'basic needs' of a vast and fast growing population.

As Africa's largest cement maker, Dangote Group has plants under construction in Zambia, Tanzania, Congo and

Ethiopia and is building cement terminals in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Liberia, among other places.

Only recently, Dangote pledged $2 million to establish a fellowship programme aimed at grooming young leaders from Africa.

As a nonpartisan and detribalised businessperson, he is generous to different political parties, religious groups and cultural institutions. Apart from providing employment to elite graduates from different ethnic backgrounds, he minimises the level of crime by engaging youths who are school leavers in the area of transportation, packaging, and security amongst others.

The group today is involved in diverse forms of manufacturing with high turnover. Dangote Textile and the Nigeria Textiles Mills Plc, which it acquired, produce over 120,000 meters of finished textiles daily. The group has a ginnery in Kankawa, Katsina State with a capacity of 30,000 metric tons of seeded cotton annually.

The sugar refinery at Apapa port, Lagos, is the largest in Africa and in size the third largest in the world with an annual capacity of 700,000 tonnes

Dangote

of refined sugar annually. It also has another 100,000 toncapacity sugar mill at Hadeija in Jigawa State.

Apart from having substantial investment in the National Salt Company of Nigeria at Ota, Ogun State, the group has salt

factories at Apapa and Calabar, a polypropylene bagging factory which produces required bags for its products, over 600 trailers for efficient distribution network and goods meant for export can also efficiently be transported to the ports. A vehicle-leasing unit with over 100 fully air-conditioned commuter buses, is also part of the Dangote Group.

Dangote Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the group where yearly he spends millions for worthy causes such as contributions to educational and healthcare institutions, sinking of boreholes and giving of scholarships.

The Dangote Group has nationwide staff strength of 12,000 but on completion of on-going projects, it is expected to hit 22,000.

Even with his vast fortune, Dangote is still an extremely hard worker today. He rarely sleeps more than three or four hours per night and famously did not take any kind of vacation for 17 years straight. That vacation streak was broken recently when he traveled to Walt Disney World in Orlando with a gigantic group of family that included 18 children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Seven entrepreneurs you should start following now Want some inspiration?

Start following inspiring people. And when I say “follow,” I am not referring only to Twitter, although that is an excellent starting point. I mean follow as in study, investigate, hear, heed, sit at their feet and absorb the lessons.

H

ere are seven thought leaders (in no particular order) that are worth following.

1. Tony Hsieh: The CEO of Zappo’s is so much more than a shoe salesman. Hsieh is the model for how corporate execu-

Marie Forleo

tives can stay firmly connected to the real world. His Tweets alone are worth his reputation.

2. Travis Kalanick: OK, I admit my bias as a sold-out fan of Uber, but Kalanick’s story is quite remarkable. I will continue to follow this young genius to see how he navigates an endless stream of obstacles. Kalanick’s lessons for entrepreneurs are invaluable.

3. Marie Forleo: There are those who make things happen and those who wonder what happened. Count Forleo in the former category. The term “selfmade woman” is more than appropriate for her. This energetic, brash and straight-talking success guru has fashioned an amazing company with a vast following.

4. Guy Kawasaki: I first read

Tony Hsieh

How to Drive Your Competition Crazy roughly 20 years ago and I have never looked at competitive positioning the same way again.

The former chief evangelist for Apple is a serial entrepreneur and investor with an eye for success. His Tweets are solid gold.

5. Daniel Kahneman: This Nobel Prize-winning founder of behavioral economics won’t blow you out of the water with flashy presentations, but he will make you think about life in entirely new ways. His masterpiece book Thinking Fast and Slow took me forever to read because every page provided content that demanded I pause, reflect on the application and change my thinking accordingly. Watch his videos on YouTube, Ted Talks and Big Think.

6. Gary Vaynerchuk: You can read his books or his blog, but you really need to experience Garyvee (Google it) to get the entire, unfiltered flavor of Vaynerchuk’s brilliance. His enterprise provides a blueprint for entrepreneurial success in the digital age. Garyvee’s unending approachability has endeared him to millions.

7. Malcolm Gladwell: If Malcolm Gladwell wrote nothing but knock-knock

jokes, I would read every one of them. Of course, his version would go something like, “Knock-knock. Who’s there?

An observationalist with an uncanny knack for seeing things that everyone else overlooks.” Gladwell is deeply cerebral and yet easily readable - a great combination for the ADD entrepreneur. His study of human nature is spellbinding.

• Source: Entrepreneur

Meeting of African leaders opens to protests C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 5

said they were angry that the White House was looking to enhance economic ties with repressive governments. “Stop financing dictators;” “President Obama, shame on you,” the crowd chanted.

Director of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia, Obang Metho, referenced President Obama’s message to African leaders during his 2009 trip.

“Africa doesn’t need strongmen.

It needs strong institutions,” Obama said at the time.

“Now he is sitting with strongmen,” Metho said.

“Where are the strong institutions?”

The sessions on Monday began with a forum on supporting civil society, and the leaders heard from Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. “It’s not possible to succeed for

your people unless they have a chance to shape the policies of their government, identify problems and root out injustices and find ways for groups to resolve their differences peacefully,” Biden said.

Secretary of State, John Kerry, also addressed the leaders and met one-on-one with Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. When Kerry was in Congo earlier this year, he urged Kabila to step down after his current term, as Congo’s constitution requires.

“Large majorities of Africans support free, accessible and fair elections and limiting their presidents to two terms in office,” Kerry said Monday.

Protesters outside the State Department said they hoped that the Obama administration would continue to press Kabila on the term limit.

BUSINESS 37

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Mobile network operators have been offloading their towers to independent infrastructure companies as part of steps towards creating greater efficiency.

JONAH IBOMA examines the fallouts of this situation and how it has created a totally new business in African countries

W

hen the Nigerian government opened up the telecommunications industry in 2001 through the issuance of digital mobile licences to three companies, little did people know that a new industry- telecommunication infrastructure provision- will emerge from the process. At the commencement of their operations at that time, MTN, Econet Wireless and M-Tel were involved in various businesses – power generation, printing of recharge cards, land acquisition, optic fibre laying, building of masts and towers and other things.

As a result, these network operators became major employers of labour and were developed expertise in areas different from their primary focus of telecommunications service provisioning.

Outsourcing However, after over a decade of the development of the industry, things have changed somewhat as the mobile network operators are now moving away from providing almost all the major support services for the telecommunications industry, leaving new infrastructure firms- tower companies to emerge as important players in the system. The trend is Africa-wide and not just limited to Nigeria. Many operators are now transferring their base stations and towers to firms who specialise in managing them better.

In July, Bharti Airtel said it will sell over a fifth of its telecom tower portfolio in Africa to Helios Towers Africa (HTA), as part of its overall strategy to sell-off its 15,000 towers to several independent tower companies. MTN has also done the same as it has sold all of its 1,269 mobile network towers in Rwanda and Zambia to IHS Holding for an undisclosed amount. IHS subsidiaries will own and manage 550 towers in Rwanda and 719 towers in Zambia.

Also, In January 2014, Etisalat was reportedly said to be ready to sell 2,500 cell-towers and may use South Africa's Standard Bank to advise on the sale.

This sale of the towers is expected to raise some $400 million for the company.

Under the terms of the deals, MTN, Etisalat and Bharti Airtel have become tenants on the towers and collocation services will also be offered to them and other competitors.

Aside these deals, MTN is still planning to sell a stake in its Nigerian mobile tower network, which it values at more than $1 billion, this year.

TECHTalk

W it h

Telecom: Towers firms emerge as new force

Issam Darwish, CEO, IHS Africa

“There is a bidding process going on, so they’re busy doing a due diligence on us, on our towers, our processes and we’re doing due diligence on them, if they’re the right company,” the Chief Financial Officer of MTN’s Nigerian unit, Andrew Bing, said in an interview.

per cent of Nigeria’s towers will be owned or operated by tower companies by the end of this year.

The leading tower firms in Africa are Helios Towers Africa and IHS. Helios owns 7,800 towers, while IHS has over 10,500 of which 5,750 are owned and 4,750 managed. American Tower owns 5,099 towers in Africa, followed

by Eaton Towers with 2,500 (of which 800 are owned) and a cluster of regional tower companies led by Helios Towers Nigeria and SWAP, each with over 1,000 Nigerian towers.

The firm said that the trend is being driven by pressure from falling average revenue per user (ARPUs), rising energy operational expenditure and the capital expenditure required to upgrade Africa’s networks from 2G to 3G. “Africa’s mobile network operators are monetising their towers and refocusing on their core business,” it said.

Independent tower firms Based on the development, a research organization, TowerXchange, Half of Africa’s towers will have been transferred from mobile network operators to independent tower companies by the end of 2015, The trend confirms that the independent tower company business model has achieved ‘launch velocity’ in Africa.

"Since the first deal in 2010, 18 per cent of Africa’s 160,000 telecom towers have been transferred from Mobile Network Operators to independent tower companies. TowerXchange forecasts that tower companies will own or operate 38.8 per cent of Africa’s towers by year end 2014, and more than 50per cent by the end of 2015,” said Kieron Osmotherly, Chief Executive Officer, TowerXchange.

According to Developing Telecoms, a technology research firm, over $2 billion has been invested in African tower transactions over the past four years.

The firm noted that African independent tower companies have been raising even more capital in anticipation of a further $3 billion worth of assets being sold before the end of this year.

It has identified 35,000 towers for sale this year and they include, the remainder of Airtel’s 15-20,000 African towers in 17 countries, after the sale of the first tranche of 3,100 Airtel towers to Helios Towers Africa, announced earlier this month. Almost all remaining towers in Nigeria are also on the block.

TowerXchange has forecast that 84

Africa’s mobile network operators are monetising their towers and refocusing on their core business

Efficiency One of the reasons for all these is that tower companies are able to maximise the towers' value by selling co-locations to other network operators, broadcasters, internet service providers, WiMAX and metropolitan 4G players.

The current situation, according to Developing Telecoms, means that African governments and telecoms regulators win too as tower companies reduce the need for parallel infrastructure and accelerate time to market for network extensions and new market entrants.

“A tower transaction unlocks immediate improvement capex, deployed to ensure health and safety, to make power systems more robust to ensure Service Level Agreements are met, to measure and monitor cell site performance, and to upgrade sites for multiple tenants. As tower companies add more tenants to sites, cash flow improves and adds to towerco’s appetite to invest in energy efficiency to improve site level profitability,” it said.

Developing Telecoms stated further that the African trend is being replicated in other part of the world including China where top network operators have entered an agreement and also Indonesia.

08050498516

Filling the digital switchover gap

D

Charles Green, CEO, Helios Towers Africa

Jonah Iboma

igital migration or switchover has become a major issue in the communications industry in recent times. Digital switchover is one of the fallouts of contemporary technology advancements that have made the use of analogue systems antiquated and new digital based technologies the order of things. In particular, with the use of television, digital migration involves the movement away from television sets that receive analogue signals to digital signals.

Like many parts of the world, Africa has also started the process and the transition in broadcasting has the potential to improve both the quantity and quality of what is available on TV and to increase the number of people who will be able to watch it. African countries said that they are committed to migrating to digital broadcasting

by June 2015.

There are a number of countries in the western world that have completed this transition and many more are making the transition. International Telecommunication Union's Regional Telecommunication Conference (RRC) approved the process of digital transition in broadcasting as it involves re-allocating frequencies as well.

Digital migration standard is not the same across the world. Different regions use different standards much as they do for analogue television transmission. This digital transition in broadcasting is a costly process –both for government and citizens. There are costs for digital production equipment, for digital transition equipment and for set-top boxes and digitally-enabled TVs. Set-top boxes are the equipment required to allow existing analogue TV sets to access digital signals.

Based on these reports, my concern today is that not much is being done to let the public know about this emerging reality in Nigeria. I believe that if opinion poll is conducted today, over 90 per cent of Nigerians will say that they have not heard about digital migration, let alone knowing that by June next year, most of the television sets in the country will need set top boxes before they can access signals.

In the countries where digital migration has been completed, certain types of television sets have completely been replaced by new ones. These old TV sets are shipped into third world countries like Nigeria. Because many Nigerians do not know about this situation, a lot of people in the country just purchase these television sets without realising that they are based on technology that has been phased out in Europe, America and some parts of Asia.

There is therefore the need for greater effort to be channelled into enlightenment so that people can prepare themselves. The benefits of better picture and sound quality that television viewers will get need to be emphasised so that people can know what this is about.

The National Broadcasting Commission, the Ministry of Information and other government bodies including the Nigerian Communications Commission need to work together to ensure that people know about this. Already there is accusation that Tanzania pushed through its digital switchover recklessly and in the end many people were left without television signals as they did not prepare themselves. If Nigeria does not put a proper enlightenment programme in place, it will likely end up leaving many of its citizens disgruntled by June 2015.

38

BUSINESS | ICT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

GSMA supports ITU’s mobile broadband spectrum plan COLLABORATION Leading telecoms bodies work towards improving data usage Stories by Jonah Iboma

G

SM Association, the global trade body that represents the interest of mobile operators worldwide, says that the intention of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) to approve new spectrums for mobile broadband could offer solution to market demands for mobile data.

According to details re-

leased by the trade body following a meeting of ITU’s Joint Task Group in Geneva in July, GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Tom Phillips, said the new spectrum is needed to cope with growing data traffic that operators are handling.

He said: “At a critical ITU meeting in Geneva, governments across the globe agreed to put forward for detailed discussion a number of new spectrum bands for use by mobile broadband services.

While a final decision will not be taken until the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) in November 2015, the GSMA welcomes the news that the full range of new spectrum bands supported by the mobile

industry remain potential solutions to meet the growing demand of consumers globally for mobile data.

“Extensive technical analysis has been carried out by governments, industry and international organisations to support the allocation of new spectrum for mobile broadband services.

New, harmonised spectrum is vital to ensure that mobile networks can cope with the exponential growth in data traffic that we are witnessing today and for the future delivery of affordable and ubiquitous mobile broadband coverage.

Phillips noted that the rapid expansion of mobile technology had become an important factor that is transforming

economic opportunity around the world. According to him, the mobile industry generates, directly and indirectly, 3.6 per cent of global GDP (equivalent to US $2.4 trillion) and 10.5 million jobs and this contribution is expected to rise to 5.1 per cent of GDP and 15.4 million jobs by 2020.

“The decisions made at the WRC in 2015 will have a direct impact on the ability of all the world’s citizens to benefit from access to the Internet. As mobile will be the way that the Internet is accessed for the majority of those currently unconnected, the allocation of new spectrum for the mobile Internet is therefore critical,” he stated.

L-R: Head of Operations, Globacom, Mr Bisi Koleoso; Coordinator, Gloworld, Mr Dimeji Amao; and Miss Omolade Odunola, at the unveiling of the 3-in-1 Recharge Option in Lagos.

BBM now on Lumia smartphones, says Microsoft

M

icrosoft Mobile has announced that popular mobile messaging application, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is now available for download on its Windows Phone-based Lumia smartphones.

Microsoft made this announcement following BlackBerry's disclosure last week that BBM is now open to those using the Windows phone platform, a move that potentially makes the messaging service more appealing to its enterprise clients Speaking on this new development, Partnership Manager, Developer Experience, Nokia West and Central Africa, Emmanuel Oluwatosin, stated that "it is a relief to finally have BBM on the Lumia smartphones, which will create more fun experiences for our customers.

"We are extremely delighted

about this news and we know our customers are excited as well. We finally have one more to boost our presence in the smartphone market. This will also expand various chat applications available on the Lumia smartphone for customers to stay connected with their loved ones.

"BBM app is available for all Lumia smartphone running Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 operating system. To download the BBM app is absolutely free and easy; customers should go to the Windows Store on their Lumia smartphones, search for Blackberry Messenger and BBM Beta app and download," he added.

The app has been tailored for Microsoft's Live Tile user interface, and users will find three sections in BBM - Chats, Contacts and Feeds- which can be accessed by swiping through the app.

Signal Alliance, Cisco to improve customer care services Alliance Limited has tight work schedules - a situStionignal announced the introduc- ation where you are already of the Cisco Smart Care aware of a network fault well Services, a services solution platform that fosters proactive infrastructure support services for customers.

During an industry presentation, Mr Kingsley Nnamchi, Signal Alliances’ Presales Manager, described the Cisco Smart Care Service as a unique, proactive services platform that allows Cisco products and solutions customers to take advantage of Cisco’s database of networking expertise, methodologies, technical tools, best practices and service infrastructure to create new, personalized and proactive support services for their networks.

According to Nnamchi, the solution provides the capabilities needed to offer the network-level insight, proactive maintenance, and proactive network support services that customers require. He continued, “Imagine – as a network administrator with your usual

before it occurs! Imagine a scenario where you know about the latest updates/patches needed for your sensitive security equipment that protect your infrastructure and services from unauthorized access and attacks.

Clearly, this is a tool that takes the goal of achieving maximum infrastructure and services uptime to a whole new level. Smart Care services is miles ahead of the well-known SmartNet services, combining so many of the other Cisco products and services support modules to provide a robust, well-rounded total infrastructure backup for the enterprise business.

From the onset of subscribing for the Cisco Smart Care service, the enterprise customer begins to grow and differentiate their businesses in the commercial marketplace.

Etisalat ends engineering internship scheme tisalat has said that the first Eprogramme set of intakes to the masters have concluded a

four-week internship with its technical team.

The internship is part of the telecoms firm’s commitment to the development of Education in Nigeria, through its Telecommunications Engineering Program at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Speaking on the internship, Director, Brands and Communication at Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye noted that “Etisalat hosted a four-week internship period as part of the compulsory course requirement for the Masters programme. The first set of intakes recently concluded this internship with our highly trained technical team in Abuja.”

“In addition, Etisalat has provided access to e-resources for the programme to students and lecturers alike. Apart from the internship, we are also sponsoring lecturers of ABU to undertake doctorate degrees in Telecommunication Engineering at the University of Plymouth in the UK. The first two lecturers are in the first year of the programme, while plans are in place for another set of lecturers to proceed by the end of this year,” he said.

One of the participants of the internship program, Mr Bello Habeeb, said: ‘ETEP is an excellent program which would equip engineering graduates with the capacity and expertise in optimally staffing the telecommunications sector; and graduates from this program would also serve as manpower to effectively steer the telecommunication industry which has been tagged as the backbone of the new economy.’

Mr Chuks Nzefili, also a participant, commended Etisalat for the initiative and thanked them for the opportunity; he said. “The ETEP internship has helped bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge in the classroom and practical experience on the field, thus deepening the knowledge acquisition process. Etisalat Nigeria is building capacity and enabling the creation of resource persons in Telecoms Engineering. That is the best that can be done for a nation.”

An all-expense paid trip to the Etisalat Academy, in the United Arab Emirates is underway for the three best graduating students of the postgraduate programme, to broaden their learning experience and gain certification in this field. The first set of these will embark on their journey shortly.

In May 2013, Etisalat launched the pioneer M.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering, named Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Programme (ETEP) at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU), in partnership with Plymouth University UK, Etisalat Academy, UAE; and Huawei; first of its kind in West Africa.

BUSINESS | ICT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

AGREEMENT Leading telecom firms in partnership to improve service delivery

M

ainOne and Smile Communications have signed a contract agreement for the purchase of long-term capacity on the MainOne network.

The agreement signing took place at Smile Communications’ facility in Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.

MainOne is a West Africa’s leading telecoms services company with specialisation in bandwidth provision, while Smile is a provider of 4G LTE

MainOne, Smile Communications sign long-term pact Broadband internet service, The new pact will extend the tenor of Smile’s existing services with MainOne and add significant growth to support Smile’s growth push in the Nigerian market.

Speaking at the formal ceremony, Chief Sales Officer of MainOne, Folu Aderibigbe, said the agreement with Smile Communications would not only strengthen broadband penetration in the country but

empower future generations to be competitive and tech-savvy.

This project, Aderibigbe noted, “is an important example of MainOne’s commitment to bring high-speed broadband access to Africa and we are proud to be providing international capacity to Smile Communications, thereby supporting their efforts in ensuring broad-based economic growth in Nigeria.”

Group Chief Operating Of-

ficer, Smile Communications, Tom Allen, noted: “Smile’s initiative to connect with MainOne will provide an opportunity for its client’s to interact, engage in e-commerce activities, product advertising and online surveys, thereby achieving the goal of making the world a global village.”

L-R: Board Member, Airtel Nigeria, Paul Usoro (SAN); Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Mrs. Sola Oworu; winners of CEO award for excellence and grand prize 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser, Mr. Nwabueze Nwachukwu of C& M Abuson Ltd and MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya at the 2014 Airtel Channel Partners’ Award in Lagos on Thursday

Rwanda digital migration process enters third phase R that African countries will not meet the deadline for the digital switchover despite the efforts they are making.

According to a new report

by Ovum, major African territories such as South Africa and Nigeria are set to miss a deadline to switch off analogue television signals. Rwanda will become the second country in Sub-Saharan Africa after Tanzania to switch off its analogue television signal.

“Most” sub-Saharan countries in Africa fail to meet the 2015 deadline, according to Ovum, which is part of DTVE, the publisher Informa Telecoms & Media.

The report noted that there was however a determination

among regulators and governments across the continent to possibly switch off analogue signals before the transition to digital.

It is this mindset “that the deadline must be met at all costs” that could lead to many homes losing TV reception, advertisers moving away from television in turn and a subsequent decline to revenues at affected channels.

“In Tanzania, the switchover process was pushed through recklessly, with damaging results,” said Adam Thomas, Ovum’s lead analyst for global TV markets. “Thousands of homes lost their ability to watch TV and advertising revenue suffered as a result.

BlackBerry Z3 smartphone sets the industry benchmark for HTML5 performance on smartphones due to its speed, fluid and responsive scrolling and zooming.

The browser includes many advanced feature such as supporting multiple tabs, private website browsing, reader mode, and integration for easy content sharing.

The new BlackBerry Z3 smartphone was launched in Nigeria July, and is already retailing through authorized partners at what the firm says is a very competitive price.

The BlackBerry Z3 extends the BlackBerry® 10 platform to a new generation of customers in Nigeria at an attractive price point and offers them more ways to securely communicate, collaborate and be productive with an experience built on reliable, secure communications.

The BlackBerry Z3 features a stylish design with a 5” touch display, an unrivalled messaging and typing experience, exceptional battery life, is equipped with BlackBerry 10 OS version

partnership agreement with Google to expand operations and to carry out geocoding of businesses and organisations across the country to make them more accessible to the public.

Under the agreement Yel-

low Pages will get the latitude and longitude coordinates of businesses and institutions, enabling them to be located on Google maps.

Yellow Pages said the new service will be of particular value to first time customers in finding local businesses and organisations.

Managing Director Yell

10.2.1 and is Android app compatible.

Some other features of the phone include the BlackBerry Hub that lets you access all your work and personal email, BBM™, text messages, social media updates and notifications in one place, with the ability to “peek” into the BlackBerry Hub from anywhere, so you’re always only one swipe away from what matters to you. The Hub can be customized to identify priority messages and to filter the message list by various criteria that you can then activate with a simple pinch gesture.

Another feature is the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) which includes all the latest features of the popular mobile social network. Users can get BBM voice and video chatting with screen share and support for BlackBerry Natural Sound.

This lets users hear nuances and variations in tone in a BBM voice chat, and making the conversation sound like you’re in the same room.

The new BlackBerry Z3 also includes a built-in FM radio.

You can listen to local FM stations, which does not require any network connection.

Jumia plans Ghana, Cameroon entry frica’s leading online reAexpand tailer, Jumia, is poised to into Cameroon, Ugan-

da and Ghana to take advantage of a huge hunger for its services in those markets, according to Reuters.

Established in 2012, Jumia is often described as an ecommerce start-up aimed to imitate Amazon’s feat by delivering a wide range of items across Africa.

Jumia already has operations in Nigeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Kenya.

It sells up to 100,000 diverse stuffs from its local depots.

Jumia is an African online

Yellow Pages, Google in pact to geocode Nigerian businesses ell Publishers Limited, pubYPages, lishers of Nigeria’s Yellow has signed a three year

In its four years of operation, MainOne has emerged the leading provider of bandwidth connectivity solutions to leading organisations in Nigeria. Its clientele includes organisations from different sectors of the economy to include Radisson Blu, Etisalat, Konga.com, Skye Bank, and the University of Lagos.

Browser sets Z3 apart –BlackBerry Limited has said Ber lackBerry that the BlackBerry 10 browson its recently inaugurated

wanda has started the third phase of its digital migration process, meaning over 51,000 homes to be affected as they will be unable to access programmes on analogue transmission.

The digital migration process is a four-phase programme that started in January 2014 with the country’s capital, Kigali, being the first city to be affected.

On January 31, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, (RURA), switched off analogue services in Kigali, while on March 31 and on May 31 those in the North-West and Eastern parts of the country were subsequently switched off. The last phase of the switchover from analogue transmission to digital broadcasting will involve the West and South-West regions, according to the Director General of RURA, Patrick Nyirishema.

“Out of those, 141,260 homes have acquired decoders,” the regulator was quoted.

Tele 10, Sorim, TransAfrica and Star Africa Media are the four companies licensed to import decoders.

While Rwanda appears to be making steady progress, there seems to be a general conclusion

39

Publishers, Felix Okoro, said, “Nigeria Yellow Pages, our directory, is available on every platform. We have the hard copy, which is available in all major bookshops and malls across ten cities in the country. The online version can also be accessed through smart phones, I-pad, and other tablets while on the move.”

shopping site where consumers can buy and browse through a variety of items including electronics, fashion, home appliances, kid’s items and more.

The firm set up shop in Uganda earlier this year, according to Reuters. The Ghana and Cameroon operations are poised to open in the next couple of weeks, Reuters reported, citing Jumia spokesman.

“We know we are early. We are coming to markets which are not as mature in terms of Internet penetration and Internet savviness but still there is a big appetite for this service,” Reuters quoted Jumia co-founder, Sacha Poignonnec, as saying.

International consulting corporation, McKinsey, has guessed that almost 16 percent of sub-Saharan Africans are linked to the internet while Europe had 75 percent of its people connected to the net.

McKinsey has said an increase in the number of Africans exposed to the Internet will assist African e-commerce sales to rise to $75 billion by 2025, thereby bolstering Jumia’s business.

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FEATURES

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

T

he crowd at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, the Osun State capital on July 17, was very appreciative.

The people showed their appreciation through singing, dancing and prayers for Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Of course, the crowd, comprising mainly of women, has reason to be. The Aregbesola administration was giving out N375 million as cash in aid of women who head households in the state.

Apart from giving the women monthly stipend, they will be trained in vocations common to their territory and at the end of the 12th month, they will each be given a seed money to start small-scale business.

The only condition attached to the benefitting households was that they should make use of government infrastructure - meaning pregnant women in such households should make use of government health facilities while their children attend public schools.

Also, at the event, new ultra-modern hand-held ultrasound diagnostic scanners (touch screen) and mirror-3d (colour) dopller ultrasound diagnostic scanners were launched.

Speaking at the event, Aregbesola restated the commitment of his administration to making life better for the generality of the people.

He said: “With all sense of modesty, I want to say that there is no household in Osun State that our administration has not touched positively.”

According to him, the programme being launched was the pilot programme.

The governor gave an assurance that it would spread to other local governments.

“You have not seen anything yet. We want to ensure that poverty is reduced to the barest minimum in this state. That is why our programme is anchored on the development of our people,” he added.

Speaking on the scanners, Aregbesola said that they were procured to ensure reduction in maternal mortality and reduce incidence of stroke.

He said: “The first scanner will scan pregnant women and detect the position of the unborn baby for any necessary medical action if there is need while the second scanner detects early stroke symptoms in people for early medication.”

Aregbesola was emphatic in the mode of operation of the two health facilities.

“Pregnant women and others that will make use of these facilities will not pay any money - it is free,” he said.

The programme climaxed with the handing over of the N375 million cheque to the heads of the benefitting households and the launching of the ultramodern, ultrasound scanners.

The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Abdullah Binuyo, under whose office the programme was executed, disclosed that it is called Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).

He said: “From whichever way you look at it, the people are the winners.

They are not only the direct beneficiaries but also all the positive multiplier effects of the programme come back as plus for the people.

“We give out N5,000 monthly to the head of each benefitting households who is a woman. That is the cash aspect. The residents of the benefitting households must make use of government facilities; that is the condition. The transfer aspect is that the money given out will be spent in the state; that is ploughing back the money into the state economy thereby contributing to its development.

“At the end of the 12th month, each

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com otuntise@yahoo.co.uk

Osun: Touching lives positively A maxim says educate a man, you educate a household; educate a woman, you educate a nation. The administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola is growing the economy of Osun State through women empowerment, reports WALE ELEGBEDE

Aregbesola presenting a cheque of N375 million to the beneficiaries of the CCT.

Aregbesola (left) with Binuyo, Adegboyega and Special Adviser to the Governor on Women and Children Affairs at the event

head of the benefitting households will get N100,000 to start a small-scale business of her own.

“Remember that the pregnant women are treated free at government hospitals while the children enjoy not only free education. They also get free school uniform and are fed free. So the people are the ultimate winners of this programme.”

The Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega, stated that the benefitting households were not picked at random.

She said: “They were selected through a thorough research by the consultant we employed to do so and the woman is a professor from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. “It took her six months of crisscrossing every nook and cranny of this state to arrive at the list of beneficiaries.

According to her, the pilot scheme involves five local government areas in the state with 100 from each local government.

“A total of 2,250 households will benefit from this programme,” she said.

The government has also impacted positively on farmers in the state.

The famers recently applauded the Aregbesola administration for giving agriculture a boost.

The Patron of Farmers Association of Nigeria, Bola Otunla, said at the launch of Farmers’ Input and Credit Support

Aregbesola displaying the scanner.

Programme held at the Farm Input Distribution Centre, Ede, that farmers never had it so good in the state.

He said: “I have been farming for decades and this is the first time this gesture will be extended to us. We are really grateful. May God bless you.”

Otunla said that as he was speaking, his fellow farmers were hailing him for speaking their minds.

He added: “Since the creation of the state in 1991, no successive government has performed the feat for farmers.

This gesture is a unique one targeted at raising the living standard of farmers in the state.”

The project was embarked upon by the Aregbesola administration for farmers to have direct and easy access to farming inputs such as improved seedlings, pesticides and fertilisers at 50 per cent subsidised rate.

This, to the administration, will lead to food security and, ultimately, empower the people at the grassroots’ level, especially farmers.

Aregbesola unveiled the debit card and gave it out to about 10,000 farmers as the first batch at the launch.

Already, over 50,000 farmers and their farms have been registered by the government to benefit from the scheme in future, across the 30 local government areas and area office in Modakeke.

Farmers have the opportunity to draw through the debit card, farming inputs worth between N100,000 and N150,000 that is repayable either in cash or in kind after a year.

The gesture tagged: Farmers Input and Credit Support Programme; according to the Coordinator, Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (O-REAP) and Director-General, Office of Economic Development and Partnership (OEDP), Dr Charles Akinola, is aimed at delivering subsidised farm inputs to farmers through debit card.

Prior to the implementation of the scheme, Akinola noted that O-REAP planning and coordinating team, in collaboration with Unicapital Plc and Wema Bank Plc, had carried out an enumeration of farmers in the state to gather and compile the necessary information on them.

The O-REAP planning and coordinating team also worked with Osun Agricultural Development Project (OSSADEP) to carry out an appraisal of the existing process and infrastructure for input distribution in the state.

Akinola disclosed that “under this scheme, the state government has decided to opt out of direct procurement and distribution of inputs since 2013 farming season and instead instituted the private-led agro input distribution scheme”.

business | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

41

CBN restricts banks’ lending capacity World Bank’s $5bn for Nigeria, MOP UP

Reduces amount available computation

Banking watchdog moves to defend the naira

The naira until recently has weakened against the dollar, lost 0.43 per cent at the interbank market yesterday.

In a letter referenced BSD/ DIR/GEN/LAB/07/021 and signed by Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision sent to all banks and discount houses, the apex bank said the exclusion was aimed at ensuring more prudent assessment of the regulatory capital of Nigerian banks and in line with global efforts aimed at raising the quality and loss absorbency of the capital base of banks.

Specifically, the apex bank said the Regulatory Risk Reserve created pursuant to Section 12.4 (a) of the Prudential Guidelines, which became effective on July 1, 2010 will henceforth, be excluded from regulatory capital for the pur-

Godson Ikoro

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said it would henceforth, exclude non-distributable regulatory reserve and other reserves in the computation of regulatory capital of banks and discount houses.

In the financial parlance, the banking watchdog is indirectly mopping up liquidity, as this measure would automatically reduce the amount of funds available to banks to buy foreign exchange at the market. This is expected to reduce the pressure on the exchange rate and help in building up the nation’s reserves.

poses of capital adequacy assessment.

The regulator said that the collective impairment on loans and receivables and other financial assets will henceforth not form part of Tier 2 capital, while other comprehensive Income (OCI) Reserves will be recognised as part of Tier 2 capital subject to the limits set in paragraph 3.2 of the CBN Guidance.

The watchdog said that for the avoidance of doubt, total Tier 2 capital (including OCI Reserves) is limited to 33.33 per cent of total Tier 1 capital.

Also, banks, according to the CBN, are required to note that unaudited OCI gains will not be recognised as part of capital while unaudited OCI losses shall be deducted from the institution’s capital in arriving at total qualifying capital.

Union Bank targets 40% loan growth

U

nion Bank of Nigeria PLC has said that it would boost its loan portfolio by 30 per cent in the second half of 2014, after increasing it by 10 per cent in the first six months, its chief finance officer, Oyinkan Adewale said.

She also said the lender is targeting retail and business customers.

"In the second half we would do 30 (in loans). We closed De-

cember 2013 at N231 billion loan book. We are looking generally in the region of 40 per cent growth for 2014," Adewale told Reuters in a phone interview.

Union Bank was bailed out in 2009, along with eight other Nigerian banks in the wake of a financial crisis. A private equity consortium recapitalised the lender, which reported last week that its first-half pretax profit fell by a third, on lower

gross earnings.

Shares in Union Bank, which have fallen 14.3 per cent this year, were up 0.2 percent at N8.20 yesterday.

Adewale said she expected the second-half profit to be "strong" without giving guidance for the full year, but said that the fall in the first six months was due to one-off write-downs, which would not occur in the second half.

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

Abuja

T

he World Bank has announced a $5 billion commitment both in technical and financial support for energy projects in six African countries.

The six beneficiaries countries, which have keyed into president Barrack Obama’s Power Africa initiative include, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Tanzania, the bank said yesterday in a statement.

World Bank Group President, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, made this pledge at the 1st US-Africa Summit in Washington DC. He said the new financial commitment was urgently needed to generate more electricity for the people of Africa, 600 million of who have no access to electricity, despite the fact that Africa possesses some of the world’s largest hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar potential, as well as significant oil and natural gas reserves.

“We think that the US Power Africa initiative will play an extremely important role in achieving the goal of providing electricity for Africa. So, today I'm very pleased to announce that the World Bank Group, following President Obama's lead, will partner with Power Africa by committing $5 billion in direct financing, investment guarantees, and advisory services for project preparation in Power Africa's six initial part-

T

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Abdulwahab Isa

ner countries, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

“The US Government and the World Bank Group are working now on specific tasks and milestones, which could help to achieve one quarter of Power Africa's goal of generating 10,000 megawatts of new power in Sub Saharan Africa,” Kim said.

Africa’s power crisis forces families and communities to spend significant amounts of their income on costly and unhealthy forms of energy, such as diesel generators or wood for indoor cooking fires. Africa has vast hydropower potential but uses just eight per cent of this untapped water force. In comparison, Western Europe uses 85 per cent of its available hydropower potential, which has contributed to their economic development and industrialisation.

“Like Europe and the rest of the world, Africa deserves the same opportunity to exploit this green source of power to improve the lives and economic prospects of its people,” said the World Bank’s Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop.

“Beyond building up power generators, they must be connected to the market, which calls for regional cooperation to build the transmission network.

We are working with African leaders and their development partners to create power pools in Africa’s East, West, Central, and Southern sub-regions.

Naira slips 0.43% on importer dollar demand

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

others’ energy projects

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Abdulwahab Isa

T

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

lenders on yesterday, but it was not sufficient to support the naira.

"There was a lot of demand in the market today ... from importers buying dollars," one dealer said.

Dealers anticipate a dollar sale by state-owned oil company – Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) any time soon to help stem the slide in the local currency. NNPC supplies a substantial amount of the dollar flows in Africa's biggest economy.

PTAD starts public enlightenment to create pension database Abuja

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

he naira fell 0.43 per cent against the US dollar on the interbank market on yesterday after importers brought forward their obligations to take advantage of a recent rally in the local currency.

The local unit according to Reuters, closed at N161.65 to the dollar, weaker than the N160.95 it closed the previous day. The naira on Monday firmed to an almost three-month high against the greenback.

Traders said the local unit of Eni sold $20 million to some

he Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) is set to embark on public sensitisation with a view to generating comprehensive database for pensioners under its purview.

Director General of PTAD, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak said this yesterday at a one -day sensitisation workshop for treasury funded parastatals and their Pension Boards of Trustees in Abuja.

She enumerated several challenges facing the barely one-yearold organization to include, “resistance to change/entrenched interest and absence of credible database on the parastatal pensions.

Other challenges include lack of adequate awareness by some concerned stakeholders, especially Pension Board of Trustees (PBOTS), pensioners and other critical stakeholders.

Nonetheless, she vowed to resist interference with its duties from the individuals and organizations that are opposed to change or that have vested interests.

Although there was no database in place when she assumed duties last year, she averred that the Directorate would embark on a pensioner’s verification and biometric data gathering exercise across the country before the end of the year.

She said the directorate will be meeting with labour unions and other parties to work out acceptable modalities for carrying out the verification exercise.

42 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

6-Aug-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

NA

Description 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

28-Sep-07 23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

100.00 535.00 515.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 220.15 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 35.00

28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.15 0.71 2.03 2.72 2.97 3.07 3.81 4.90 5.21 7.48 9.60 14.31 14.79 15.29 15.96 19.95

10.83 10.72 11.15 11.09 11.06 11.06 11.13 11.28 11.30 12.02 12.18 12.14 12.14 12.14 12.19 12.14

9.80 9.94 11.07 11.03 10.99 10.94 11.03 11.21 11.21 11.97 12.13 12.10 12.10 12.09 12.14 12.10

99.73 95.49 103.35 109.15 97.01 95.63 98.66 117.35 83.37 121.15 111.20 119.16 102.34 74.94 84.75 100.03

99.88 95.99 103.50 109.30 97.16 95.93 98.96 117.65 83.67 121.45 111.50 119.46 102.64 75.24 85.05 100.33

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,479.99

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,569.35

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

#

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.24 0.80 1.41 2.34 2.70 2.92

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.68 13.36 13.15 13.06 12.06 12.06

97.34 90.19 105.32 100.59 99.16 96.75

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,273.76

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.19

3.29

14.04

99.88

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

1.07

4.44

15.21

97.39

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

16.50

30-Sep-15

0.67

3.23

13.94

99.88

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

13.00

30-Jun-16

1.19

4.46

15.27

98.94

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

18.50

30-Jun-16

1.20

3.48

14.29

101.62

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.70

5.59

16.65

85.94

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

50.00

30-Jun-17

1.75

1.00

11.98

102.90

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.40

1.79

12.88

102.97

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

50.00

30-Sep-18

2.37

1.80

12.86

102.49

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

4.16

1.00

12.16

105.82

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

20.00

09-Dec-18

2.57

1.00

12.06

105.39

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

12.00

12-Dec-18

2.57

4.78

15.84

96.48

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.95

1.00

12.06

105.81

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

20.00

02-Oct-19

3.02

1.00

12.06

108.66

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

5.30

1.00

12.32

108.23

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

30.00

12-Dec-19

3.09

2.74

13.80

102.33

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020

30-Sep-13

14.75

11.40

30-Sep-20

3.70

1.00

12.12

107.47

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.00

27-Nov-20

6.31

1.00

12.62

103.69

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.40

1.94

13.59

105.87

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

5.00

31-Dec-20

3.88

1.44

12.58

105.66

06-Jan-14

15.00

5.00

06-Jan-21

3.91

1.95

13.09

105.58

99.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

555.90 567.92

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.17

1.00

11.79

Aa/Agusto

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.37

5.21

15.88

99.08

Nil

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.40

8.71

19.39

98.99

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

15.00

17-Aug-15

0.55

4.88

15.58

96.28

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

37.50

09-Dec-15

0.86

1.00

11.73

100.70

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

1.50

06-Jan-16

0.94

2.63

13.37

100.88

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.15

1.00

12.06

101.69

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.22

1.34

12.40

103.44

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.15

1.00

12.07

102.34

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.94

30-Nov-17

1.97

1.88

12.93

109.73

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

8.01

09-Apr-18

1.92

3.48

14.52

102.80

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.63

09-Sep-18

2.09

5.20

16.26

103.31

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

1.00

09-Sep-18

2.09

5.06

16.12

101.82

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.13

1.35

12.51

104.66

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

3.00

18-Oct-18

2.20

2.29

13.35

104.81

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.54

17-Feb-19

2.28

6.11

17.17

99.75

BBB/GCR

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.40

2.16

13.25

107.31

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.27

2.76

14.37

103.49

11-Feb-18

3.52

1.00

12.10

94.68

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

180.17

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

183.27

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

12.00 11.36

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.10

4.92

109.00

110.04

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.33

4.07

102.83

103.77

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.45

5.29

106.50

107.65

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,591.60

Corporate Eurobonds AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.71

2.96

111.45

112.64

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.83

3.95

104.48

106.01

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

5.99

5.74

100.04

100.95

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.03

6.41

100.59

102.30

B/S&P; B/Fitch

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.72

8.17

94.19

95.88

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

7.57

6.14

108.40

111.01

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.39

6.09

99.41

100.66

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.82

8.57

99.71

100.69

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

6.56

103.42

105.92

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.00

5.10

104.41

105.89

B-/S&P; B/Fitch B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,660.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,766.50

**Treasury Bills DTM 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57

FIXINGS Maturity 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.10 10.45 10.35 10.60 10.60 10.60 10.55 10.65

Offer Discount (%) 9.85 10.20 10.10 10.35 10.35 10.35 10.30 10.40

Bid Yield (%) 10.12 10.50 10.41 10.69 10.71 10.73 10.70 10.83

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 12.4167 13.2295 13.9355 14.8767

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

11.50

O/N

11.71

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 11.42 12.86

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

161.55 161.67 161.93 162.56 163.67 164.95

161.65 161.94 162.27 163.23 164.84 166.57

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.19

3.29

14.04

99.88

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

1.07

4.44

15.21

97.39

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

16.50

30-Sep-15

0.67

3.23

13.94

99.88

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

13.00

30-Jun-16

1.19

4.46

15.27

98.94

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

18.50

30-Jun-16

1.20

3.48

14.29

101.62

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.70

5.59

16.65

85.94

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

50.00

30-Jun-17

1.75

1.00

11.98

102.90

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.40

1.79

12.88

102.97

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

50.00

30-Sep-18

2.37

1.80

12.86

102.49

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

4.16

1.00

12.16

105.82

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

20.00

09-Dec-18

2.57

1.00

12.06

105.39

Sanctity of Truth

A/Agusto; A-/GCR† Thursday, August 7, 2014 *EKITI

business | FINANCIAL MARKET 43

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

12.00

12-Dec-18

2.57

4.78

15.84

96.48

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.95

1.00

12.06

105.81

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

20.00

02-Oct-19

3.02

1.00

12.06

108.66

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

5.30

1.00

12.32

108.23

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

30.00

12-Dec-19

3.09

2.74

13.80

102.33

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020

30-Sep-13

14.75

11.40

30-Sep-20

3.70

1.00

12.12

107.47

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

Nigerian stocks advance on investors’ optimism CONFIDENCE A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

KOGI *EKITI

The Nigeran Stock*NASARAWA TOTAL OUTSTANDING Exchange (NSE) VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION maintained positive Corporate Bonds momentum A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO Aa/Agusto Nil

GTB µ NGC

A-/Agusto

*FLOURMILLS

Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC Stories

by Chris Ugwu

T

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

he bulls sustained their grip on A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO

A-/Agusto the market as bargain FSDHhunters A/GCR UBAthe back jostled for shares on BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING of blue chip companies.

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR Analysts said the *DANA resurgent # BB-/GCR *TOWER of A-/DataPro†; the bulls to sustain market # AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR rally after weeks of*TOWER loss was A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA evidence that confidence is reBbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA turning to market in spite of BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS# security challenges that had BBB/GCR *DANA posed threat to investment in A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO the country. #

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 The key market performance 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 measures, the NSE All Share InEKITImarket II 31-DEC-2020 dex14.50 and capitalisation, 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 rose by 0.11 per cent as market sentiments extended gaining streak following investors’ optimism.

Consequently, the All-Share Index gained 46.91 basis points 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 or 13.50 0.11 per cent to close at GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 42,339.84 against 42,292.93 re17.00 NGCas 31-DEC-2014 corded last Monday, while the 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 market capitalisation 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 of equities14.00 appreciated

by N15 billion CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 or 0.11 per cent, as market senti13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 ments remained green.

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 Meanwhile, a turnover of 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 323.9 million shares worth N4.8 MPR+7.00 billion in DANA 5,7369-APR-2018 deals was recordTOWER 9-SEP-2018 ed MPR+7.00 in the day’s trading.

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 Just as in the previous day, UBA II 22-SEP-2018 the14.00 banking sub-sector of the 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 financial services sector was MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 the16.00 most active (measured by DANA II 1-APR-2019 turnover volume); with 176.3 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 million shares worth N2.1 bil-

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

27-Nov-13 13.50 lion exchanged by investors in 31-Dec-13 15.00 1,862 deals.

31-Dec-13in the banking 14.50 Volume sub15.00 sector06-Jan-14 was largely driven by activities in the shares of Access Bank Plc and Zeinith Bank Plc. Also, other financial services sub sector, boosted by11.50 activities 07-Oct-11 in the18-Dec-09 shares of FBNH Plc, fol13.50 lowed01-Apr-10 with a turnover of 36.07 17.00 million shares valued10.00 at N412.6 17-Aug-10 billion09-Dec-10 in 787 deals. 12.00 On 06-Jan-11 the gainers’ chart, 14.00refined petroleum market29-Sep-11 products13.00 25-Oct-13 14.25rose by ers, Mobil Oil Nigeria, 13.00 N4.13,30-Sep-10 to close at N173.75 per share,30-Nov-12 while industry18.00 competi09-Apr-11 Nigeria,16.00 tor, Eterna leapt by N0.32 09-Sep-11 to close at N4.1718.00 per share.

09-Sep-11 16.00 Also, financial services provid22-Sep-11 14.00 ers, Ecobank Transnational 18-Oct-13 15.75 International, Guaranty Trust 17-Feb-12 17.00 Bank and FBN Holdings, gained 01-Apr-14 16.00 N0.72,14-Nov-13 N0.54 and N0.28 to close 15.25 at N17.52, N29.99 and N15.25 re-

87.00 6.31 spectively . 27-Nov-20 5.00 6.40 On the flip31-Dec-20 side, downstream 5.00 31-Dec-20 petroleum marketer, MRS 3.88 Oil, 5.00 06-Jan-21 3.91 pulled back by N3.09 to close at 555.90 N58.90 per share. Cement manu-

567.92

Analysts forecast bullish outlook 07-Oct-14

0.17

1.00

11.79

99.88

13.17

11.80

18-Dec-14

0.37

5.21

15.88

99.08

6.56

103.42

105.92

5.10

104.41

105.89

F

inancial 2.00

analysts at Cowry 31-Dec-14 0.40 Asset Management have 15.00 17-Aug-15 0.55 forecast a bullish for 37.50 09-Dec-15 outlook 0.86 the 1.50 equities market 06-Jan-16 in H2 2014, 0.94 in anticipation of positive 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.15fi5.53 2.22 nancials and 25-Oct-16 corporate actions 20.00 30-Sep-17 3.15 of listed companies.

0.94 30-Nov-17 1.97 The analysts in a 2014 half8.01 review 09-Apr-18 1.92 year and outlook said 3.63 also expect 09-Sep-18 2.09 they sustenance of 1.00 09-Sep-18 2.09 foreign portfolio participation 35.00 4.13 as the local 22-Sep-18 bourse remains 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.20 attractive amongst emerging 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.28 peers regardless of the ongoing 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.40 recovery in developed markets.

2.05 14-Nov-20 6.27 They noted that the local 180.17 bourse remained attractive as 183.27 transactions bourse were dominated by foreign portfolio investors who, according to the3.52 Ni11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 economy. gerian Stock Exchange (NSE), 12.00 for 62.89 per cent, "We pride ourselves as hav- accounted 11.36 quantitative easing in ing one of the best people in the despite the United States and economic industry. We believe that the Outstanding Value Maturity Date advanced Bid Yield (%) Issue Date is organic Coupongrowth, (%) recoveries in other way to grow (N'bn) though we are not closing our economies.

Also, retail investors took the eyes to mergers and acquisition," 07-Oct-11 Otti added. back investors.

6.75 500.00 seat to institutional 28-Jan-21 5.10 “In the period under review, "Today, we are known as one 5.13in Nige500.00 4.33 of the12-Jul-13 important banks traded stocks12-Jul-18 on the Nigerian ria. The leadership of the bank bourse closed on a slightly 12-Jul-13 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.45 note as the Exchange’s is what I will leave you6.38 to judge. bullish We are strengthening our risk 1,500.00 All Share Index (NSE ASI) management function. Every 1,591.60 gained 2.79 per cent on a yearother thing is history. to-date basis to close at 42,482.49 "Where the share price is to- points. Also, market capitalisaday is 01-Feb-11 not where it should be. We tion increased by 6.06 per cent 11.50 450.00 01-Feb-16 3.71 had a19-May-11 positive growth7.50 of about to N14.03 trillion amid intro500.00 19-May-16 4.83 15 per cent in total assets in duction of new companies to 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 5.99 the H1'2014.

Our balance sheet the daily official list of the NSE 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.03 growth is strong. Loans grew by in the first half of 2014.

6.88 02-May-18 8.72 10per 09-May-13 cent while deposits grew 300.00 However, the performance of 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 7.57 the equities market in H1 2014 by 9 per cent. We will continue 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 6.39 to have a healthy coverage of was superseded by the perfor21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 8.82 our risk assets. mance recorded in the corre-

Right Issue: Diamond Bank sees N150bn market cap Supranational Bond

D

AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

iamond Bank Plc intends to Managing Director and Chief achieve about N150 billion in Executive Officer of the bank, TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION market capitalisation after Dr. Alex Otto, said the lender the completion of is its right is targeting a branch network Rating/Agency Issuer , issue that opened on 30th July of 350 across theDescription country by the 2014. end of 2016 from current 260.

FGN TheEurobonds lender, which has not "We may not have paid divipaid dividend dends for a long time, but you 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P since it came to raise capital some years ago, has will soon be seeing the returns.

BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13your JUL 12,money 2018 however, assured its teeming We are keeping for BB-/S&P shareholders that it will continyou.

That's why we are asking BB-/Fitch; 12, 2023 for more. This6.38isJUL our own way ueBB-/S&P to deliver superior returns.

The bank is raising N50.37 of compensating our patient TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE billion through issue of 8.68 bil- shareholders. The issue is comTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION lion shares at N5.80 for every 50 ing at a discounted price. We kobo share. have chosen to be an internaCorporate Eurobonds The lender notedAFREN that the tional bank,” 11.50 OttiFEB said.

01, 2016 B-/S&P; B/Fitch PLC I He said that the bank reright issue is coming with a 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P; B+/Fitch very good discount as a way mains focused in delivering 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 PLC services to the retail segment of compensating itsGTBANK existing 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC shareholders. of the market, adding that the 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/S&P; B/Fitch FIDELITY BANK PLC Speaking yesterday at the lender is expanding its footprint 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC "Facts behind the offer” pre- to take advantage of immense 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC sentation on the floor of the Ni- growth opportunities within 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC gerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the growing retail sector of the TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.00

sponding period 8.71 19.39 of the preced98.99 ing4.88 year, which 15.58saw increases 96.28 in 1.00 the NSE 11.73 ASI and market 100.70 capitalisation by 28.80 per cent 2.63 13.37 100.88 and1.00 27.32 per cent 12.06 respectively 101.69 ,” 1.34 103.44 they noted. 12.40 1.00 analysts 12.07noted that 102.34the The 1.88 bourse 12.93 local faced its 109.73 share 102.80 in of 3.48 challenges,14.52 particularly 16.26 that led 103.31 the5.20 first quarter to in5.06 16.12 101.82 vestors’ adopting a cautious ap1.35 12.51 104.66 proach to investing.

2.29 13.35 104.81 According to them, some 6.11 17.17 99.75 of these hitches included the 2.16 13.25 107.31 initial reactions of investors 2.76 14.37 103.49 to the ouster of former CBN boss, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by the presidency as his exit created uncertainties over sustainability of his94.68 laud1.00 12.10 able monetary policy reforms.

“Other challenges included uncertainties over the ability of commercial banks to respond Offer Yield (%) and Bid Price Offer profitably robustly toPrice the sharp increase in public sector & Yields cashPrices reserve ratio requirement from cent.

4.9250 per cent 109.00to 75 per 110.04 Finally, the tapering of quantita103.77the tive4.07 easing in102.83 the US, with likely attractiveness of foreign 5.29 107.65 fixed income106.50 investments and possible capital flight of foreign portfolio investors were other source of concerns,” they noted.

On forex, they noted that foreign exchange stability112.64 would 2.96 111.45 remain a top priority for the 3.95 104.48 106.01 central bank as currently, BDC 5.74 100.04 100.95 operators are shoring up their 6.41 102.30 capital base 100.59 to meeting the 94.19 95.88 new8.17N35 million operating re6.14 108.40 111.01 quirement deadline of July 31, 6.09 99.41 100.66 2014 as a way of screening out 8.57 99.71 100.69 fictitious demand.

3,660.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.00 12.62 Cement 103.69 facturers, Dangote and 1.94 13.59 WAPCO, 105.87 Lafarge Cement each 1.44 105.66 at moderated by12.58 N1.00 to close 1.95 13.09 N228.00 and N123.00 per105.58 share respectively.

6-Aug-14

3,766.50

The FMDQ Daily fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject **Treasury Bills Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, FIXINGS Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) to the FMDQ Use and Disclaimer Statement.

DTMOTC PLC Terms of Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%)

8 14-Aug-14 10.10 15 21-Aug-14 10.45 22 28-Aug-14 10.35 FGN Bonds 29 4-Sep-14 10.60 36 11-Sep-14 10.60 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 43 18-Sep-14 10.60 50 25-Sep-14 10.55 9.25 28-SEP-2014 57 2-Oct-14 10.65 4.00 23-APR-2015 64 9-Oct-14 10.35 13.05 16-AUG-2016 71 16-Oct-14 10.65 15.10 27-APR-2017 78 23-Oct-14 10.60 85 30-Oct-14 10.40 9.85 27-JUL-2017 92 6-Nov-14 10.25 9.35 31-AUG-2017 99 13-Nov-14 10.65 10.70 30-MAY-2018 106 20-Nov-14 10.15 16.00 29-JUN-2019 NA NA 113 27-Nov-14 10.70 7.00 23-OCT-2019 120 4-Dec-14 10.20 16.39 27-JAN-2022 127 11-Dec-14 10.75 14.20 14-MAR-2024 155 8-Jan-15 10.15 15.00 28-NOV-2028 169 22-Jan-15 10.10 12.49 22-MAY-2029 183 5-Feb-15 10.15 8.50 20-NOV-2029 197 19-Feb-15 10.15 10.00 23-JUL-2030 211 5-Mar-15 10.25 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 246 9-Apr-15 10.20 260 23-Apr-15 10.15 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 274 7-May-15 10.00 TOTAL *from theMARKET AmortisingCAPITALISATION bonds, the # average life is is acalculated Risk Premium combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

9.85 10.20 10.10 10.35 10.35 Issue Date 10.35 10.30 28-Sep-07 10.40 23-Apr-10 10.10 16-Aug-13 10.40 27-Apr-12 10.35 10.15 27-Jul-07 10.00 31-Aug-07 10.40 30-May-08 9.90 29-Jun-12 10.45 23-Oct-09 9.95 27-Jan-12 10.50 14-Mar-14 9.90 28-Nov-08 9.85 22-May-09 9.90 20-Nov-09 9.90 23-Jul-10 10.00 18-Jul-14 9.95 9.90 9.75

10.12 10.50 10.41 10.69 10.71 Coupon 10.73(%) 10.70 9.25 10.83 4.00 10.54 13.05 10.88 15.10 10.85 10.66 9.85 10.52 9.35 10.97 10.70 10.46 16.00 11.07 7.00 10.55 16.39 11.17 14.20 10.61 15.00 10.60 12.49 10.69 8.50 10.74 10.00 10.90 12.1493 10.95 10.94 10.81

Description

NIBOR

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Value Outstanding 6M (N'bn)

Rate (%) 12.4167 13.2295 13.9355 Maturity Date 14.8767

100.00 535.00 515.27 452.80 Tenor 1M 20.00 2M 100.00 3M 300.00 6M 351.30 9M 233.90 12M 600.00

28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 Rate (%) 10.5591 27-Jul-17 10.5904 31-Aug-17 10.5979 30-May-18 10.6544 29-Jun-19 10.8179 23-Oct-19 11.1791 27-Jan-22

NITTY

220.15 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 22-May-29 150.00 200.00Current Price ($/N) 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 BID($/N)591.57 161.1100 35.00 18-Jul-34 OFFER ($/N) 161.2100

OBB

11.50

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D REPO Offer Yield TTM (Yrs) BidRate Yield Tenor (%)(%) 1M (%) Call 11.42 2M 0.15 10.83 9.80 1M 12.86 3M 0.71 10.72 9.94 3M 13.35 6M 2.03 11.15 11.07 6M 14.10 1Y 2.72 11.09 11.03 2.97 11.06 10.99 NOTE: 3.07 11.06 10.94 :Benchmarks 3.81 11.13 11.03 * :Amortising 4.90 Bond 11.28 11.21 µ :Convertible Bond 5.21 11.30 11.21 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 7.48 12.02 11.97 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.60 12.18 12.13 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 14.31 12.14 12.10 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.79 12.14 12.10 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 12.14 Company12.09 NAHCO:15.29 Nigerian Aviation Handling 15.96 12.19 12.14 O/N: Overnight 19.95Property Development 12.14 Company12.10 UPDC: UAC O/N

11.71

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

161.55 Price 161.65 161.67 161.94 161.93 162.27 Bid Price Offer Price 162.56 163.23 163.67 164.84 99.73 99.88 164.95 166.57 95.49 95.99 168.58 172.16 103.35 103.50 176.33 183.28 109.15 109.30 97.01 97.16 95.63 95.93 NA :Not Applicable 98.66 98.96 # :Floating 117.35Rate Bond 117.65 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 83.37 83.67 121.15 121.45 †: Bond rating expired 111.20 111.50 119.16 119.46 102.34 102.64 74.94 75.24 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 84.75 Bank for Africa 85.05 UBA: United 100.03 100.33

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

4,479.99 4,569.35

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

#

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 %09-Dec-16 Exposure_ 20-Apr-17 Mod_Duration 06-Jul-17

0.24 0.80 1.41 2.34 Implied Yield 2.70 2.92

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 Implied 1.00Price Portfolio 1.00

11.68 13.36 13.15 13.06 INDEX 12.06 12.06

97.34 90.19 105.32 100.59 YTD Return 99.16 (%) 96.75

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

Modified Duration ***LCRM Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11by Weighting 20-Apr-12 Vol Outstanding 06-Jul-12

0.00 BOND INDEX 978.35 FMDQ FGN 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00/16.50 Value 0.00/16.50

24.56 6.00 112.22 Bucket Weighting 116.70 66.49

<3

1,026.76

968.07

35.45

35.26

1,304.32 0.35

16.55

11.12

118.4986

1,125.49

12.5495

3<5 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,139.15

951.30

34.83

39.12

35.64

11.80

134.1801

1,136.19

13.6186

Sub-National Bonds

746.16

811.72

29.72

25.62

1,273.76 0.35

0.30

47.81

12.19

101.1696

1,180.22

18.0225

2,912.08

2,731.09

100.00

100.00

1.00

100.00

11.87

118.8104

1,128.57

A-/GCR

>5

Market NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

12.8572

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.19

3.29

14.04

99.88

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

1.07

4.44

15.21

97.39

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

16.50

30-Sep-15

0.67

3.23

13.94

99.88

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

13.00

30-Jun-16

1.19

4.46

15.27

98.94

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

18.50

30-Jun-16

1.20

3.48

14.29

101.62

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.70

5.59

16.65

85.94

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

50.00

30-Jun-17

1.75

1.00

11.98

102.90

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.40

1.79

12.88

102.97

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

50.00

30-Sep-18

2.37

1.80

12.86

102.49

business | CAPITAL MARKET

44

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014

Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at August 6, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 13.05% FGN AUG 2016 Federal Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Symbol FG102016S1

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 104.20

1

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 110,436.60 110,436.60

100

110,436.60

100

1

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

110,436.60

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039 ELLAH LAKES PLC.

Fishing/Hunting/Trapping Totals

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 48 13 61

Current Price 34.44 37.00

Quantity Traded 166,480 21,221 187,701

Value Traded 5,693,916.01 766,346.07 6,460,262.08

Symbol ELLAHLAKES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.26

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 405.00 405.00

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 3.14

Quantity Traded 832,254 832,254

Value Traded 2,636,143.48 2,636,143.48

1,020,055

9,096,810.56

Symbol

Daily Summary (Equities) LIVESTOCK

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Published Diversified

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Industries

A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

88

Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 3 1 265 51 320

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039 Real Estate Development Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Activity SummaryBREW. on Board CHAMPION PLC.EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables VITAFOAM PLC. Published by The NigerianNIG Stock Exchange © Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Banking Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE Activity Summary on Board EQTYBANK PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC.

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES

Page Quantity Traded 10,000 100 26,411,128 230,110 26,651,338

161,471,316.27

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 1.16

Quantity Traded 707,051 707,051

Value Traded 819,742.34 819,742.34

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 65.00

Quantity Traded 133,739 133,739

Value Traded 8,712,089.20 8,712,089.20

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 16.74

Quantity Traded 130,621 130,621

Value Traded 2,193,488.34 2,193,488.34

971,411

11,725,319.88 Value Traded 1,297,191.00

64 Symbol CHAMPION

No. of Deals 5

Current Price 8.31

Quantity Traded 156,100

Symbol GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 1 66 11 202 285

Current Price 0.71 200.00 26.65 186.50

Quantity Traded 1,847 1,041,890 54,182 3,564,453 4,818,472

Value Traded 1,366.78 208,318,305.94 1,468,105.76 661,469,138.98 872,554,108.46

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 115.00

Quantity Traded 13,965 13,965

Value Traded 1,686,273.75 1,686,273.75

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM

No. of Deals 57 60 108 37 59 11 332

Current Price 7.40 8.97 78.93 4.10 10.09 19.70

Quantity Traded 227,974 1,861,199 445,134 497,700 1,810,473 656,100 5,498,580

Value Traded 1,696,032.06 16,745,851.62 35,110,152.55 2,038,359.88 18,448,380.71 12,796,125.00 86,834,901.82

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 74.25 1,110.00

Quantity Traded 51,686 110,718 162,404

Value Traded 3,645,930.44 122,731,195.18 126,377,125.62

CADBURY NESTLE

10 36 46

Page

2

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Published byBuilding The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Materials

Quantity Traded 224,595 764,773 989,368

Value Traded 8,457,933.17 37,600,934.97 46,058,868.14

11,702,563

1,134,424,775.83

Quantity Traded 43,810,115 7,301,714 8,882,451 18,411,095 7,355,745 13,705,206 7,302,461 22,253,400 1,231,756 3,448,803 1,347,244 40,320,919

Value Traded 433,211,930.24 46,473,949.34 154,059,300.39 37,281,803.99 218,516,928.34 42,592,583.12 16,313,126.86 171,306,734.07 10,088,121.95 1,724,401.50 1,363,308.60 1,010,978,253.26

1,852

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 175,370,909

Value Traded 4 of 15 2,143,910,441.66

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Current Price 0.81 1.04 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.54 0.80 0.50 0.51 0.85

Quantity Traded 2,684,306 54,600 336,100 40,100 1,000 100 121,342 27,500 100,400 2,710,500 2,922,250 10,000 4,753,125 2,906,989 16,668,312

Value Traded 2,178,136.65 55,109.00 168,150.00 20,050.00 500.00 50.00 60,671.00 13,750.00 50,200.00 1,451,660.00 2,338,086.37 5,000.00 2,384,825.00 2,513,744.49 11,239,932.51

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.95

Quantity Traded 62,100 62,100

Value Traded 59,045.00 59,045.00

Current Price 0.50 1.52 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,000,000 409,102 2,500 Page

Value Traded 1,500,000.00 621,835.04 1,250.00 5 of 15

Value Traded 6 of 15

1 4 3

Quantity Traded Page 3,411,602

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 77 41 2 478 68 5 24 92 787

Current Price 3.18 3.90 0.87 15.25 4.20 0.51 29.30 2.19

Quantity Traded 1,161,869 2,037,754 27,100 21,623,427 7,296,739 142,587 1,211,448 2,577,446 36,078,370

Value Traded 3,692,998.22 7,947,968.82 22,493.00 329,147,164.20 30,653,218.73 72,719.37 35,483,716.68 5,640,019.60 412,660,298.62

231,591,293

2,569,992,802.83

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

2,965

2,123,085.04

Symbol EKOCORP UNIONDAC

No. of Deals 2 1 3

Current Price 3.72 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,516 1,500,000 1,503,516

Value Traded 12,446.64 750,000.00 762,446.64

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.91

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 1,820.00 1,820.00

Page

7

of

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,100,100 1,100,100

Value Traded 550,050.00 550,050.00

3,825,929

2,389,953.94

37

Daily Summary (Equities) Page Quantity Traded 4,557,279 4,185

8Value Traded of 15 154,060,892.15 35,275.50

Current Price 39.00 15.33 228.00 1.15 1.47 5.19 123.00

Quantity Traded 104,434 2,498,428 1,658,076 80,761 13,230 423,400 1,277,246 10,617,039

Value Traded 4,155,210.88 38,248,621.34 381,316,898.05 95,660.10 19,977.30 2,198,580.00 157,132,566.90 737,263,682.22

No. of Deals 33 33

Current Price 1.92

Quantity Traded 3,635,557 3,635,557

Value Traded 7,004,383.07 7,004,383.07

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 17.11

Quantity Traded 50,200 50,200

Value Traded 858,922.00 858,922.00

Symbol BETAGLAS

OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Oil Stock and Gas Services Published byIntegrated The Nigerian Exchange © Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals JAPAULOIL

Current Price 0.51

100 100

9

of

14,302,796

745,126,987.29

Quantity Traded 15,518,786 15,518,786

Value Traded 7,807,131.45 7,807,131.45

15

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 374 374

Current Price 26.49

Quantity Traded 3,023,076 Page 3,023,076

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 1 43 37 75 73 36 15 280

Current Price 0.50 62.32 4.17 231.00 173.75 58.90 172.01

Quantity Traded 38,000 83,692 948,417 99,150 172,218 343,119 18,424 1,703,020

Value Traded 19,000.00 5,031,951.90 3,824,754.90 22,976,098.47 30,044,639.42 20,209,709.10 3,233,245.48 85,339,399.27

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 708.75

Quantity Traded 60,601 60,601

Value Traded 42,614,264.06 42,614,264.06

20,305,483

216,207,905.65 Value Traded 5,000.00 5,000.00

781

Value Traded 80,447,110.87

1080,447,110.87 of 15

Symbol AFROMEDIA

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded 69,255 Page 69,255

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 11 6 17

Current Price 4.40 1.87

Quantity Traded 71,500 201,500 273,000

Value Traded 318,780.00 376,895.00 695,675.00

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 4,629,025 4,629,025

Value Traded 2,314,512.50 2,314,512.50

Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol CAPHOTEL IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 1 13 14

Current Price 4.50 0.72

Quantity Traded 100 2,900,150 2,900,250

Value Traded 428.00 2,088,108.00 2,088,536.00

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 3 11 23

Current Price 1.79 1.60 4.48

Quantity Traded 156,560 217,706 314,154

Value Traded 280,242.40 346,855.60 1,399,712.10

EQTY

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC.Exchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PLC.EQTY Activity SummaryPRESS on Board

Daily Summary (Equities)

Value Traded 67,053.88 of 15 67,053.88

11

Symbol

No. of Deals 37

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 688,420

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 0.82

Quantity Traded 984,760 984,760

Value Traded 816,271.90 816,271.90

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 7 62 69

Current Price 2.21 5.15

Quantity Traded 57,100 810,544 867,644

Value Traded 126,824.00 4,184,700.64 4,311,524.64

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 6.20

Quantity Traded 39,500 39,500

Value Traded 242,264.00 242,264.00

Published byPrinting/Publishing The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Printing/Publishing Totals

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Support and Logistics Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC

Support and Logistics Totals

SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

EQTY Board Totals Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

CONSUMER GOODS Totals OIL GAS Published byAND The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

SERVICES Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers JULI PLC. Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers Totals

Equity Activity Totals

Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Exchange Traded Fund Totals

10,461,954

12,567,698.02

323,713,532

4,873,967,511.67

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 14,800.00 14,800.00

Symbol CAPOIL

No. of Deals 2 2

Symbol JULI

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.41

10,000 Current Price 0.50

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

Current Price 1.84

14,800.00

Page Quantity Traded 189,000 189,000

2

ASeM Board Totals

2,026,810.10

202

1

Daily Summary as Totals of 06/08/2014 SERVICES Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039

Traded15 12Value of

5,732

No. of Deals 1 1

OIL AND GAS Totals

15

Page

410

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES

Current Price

No. of Deals 38 8 8 2 1 1 6 1 7 13 34 1 15 181 316

ASOSAVINGS INFINITY UNHOMES

Value Traded 430,350.00 8,592.00 438,942.00

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC.

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Media/Entertainment Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039 Totals

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GNI HMARKINS INTENEGINS LASACO LAWUNION MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE WAPIC

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals

Quantity Traded 90,600 4,800 95,400

Symbol CUTIX

OIL AND GAS Totals

Current Price 37.75 49.05

No. of Deals DailySymbol Summary (Equities)

Current Price 5.00 1.88

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

No. of Deals 40 51 91

Current Price 9.90 6.38 17.52 2.02 29.99 3.10 2.21 7.80 8.20 0.50 1.01 25.10

No. of Deals 7 1 8

No. of Deals 25 123 46 7 1 8 68 375

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Exploration and Production Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 173 DIAMONDBNK 78 ETI 187 FIDELITYBK 119 GUARANTY 258 SKYEBANK 139 STERLNBANK 337 UBA 173 UBN 71 Daily Summary (Equities) UNITYBNK 10 WEMABANK 22 ZENITHBANK 285

Symbol CWG TRIPPLEG

Symbol CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Value Traded 3 913,498.04 of 15 913,498.04

785

Value Traded 1,400,961.94 1,400,961.94

Current Price 33.50 8.60

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Activity Summary onand Board EQTY Energy Equipment Services Totals

Quantity Traded 219,774 Page 219,774

10,963,941.40

Quantity Traded 2,630,429 2,630,429

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Current Price 4.12

2,880,710 Current Price 0.57

No. of Deals 92 5

BERGER PAINTS PLC

SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA Activity Summary PLC on Board Advertising Totals

Value Traded 293,827.50 2,448,583.25 7,048,080.37 199,178.80 210,004.84 10,199,674.76

No. of Deals 27 27

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER

ASHAKA CEM on PLC Activity Summary Board EQTY

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Totals Packaging/Containers Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039 Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

15

Quantity Traded 135,100 815,283 110,638 121,450 193,723 1,376,194

Symbol COURTVILLE

Daily Summary (Equities)

ICT Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Processing Systems Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 8

Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 CHAMS PLC Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039

of

Symbol

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals

Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039 Processing Systems

Daily Summary (Equities)

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

161,471,316.27

26,651,338

Current Price 2.15 3.00 65.01 1.64 1.13

80

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

1 of 15 Value Traded 14,730.00 400.00 147,643,759.38 13,812,426.89

Symbol COSTAIN

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 Printed 06/08/2014 SKYE15:33:39.039 BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 06/08/2014 WEMA BANK PLC. Printed 06/08/2014 15:33:39.039 Activity Summary on Board EQTY ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

Current Price 1.47 3.95 5.60 61.00

320

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

No. of Deals 7 14 25 13 16 75

HEALTHCARE Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

13 of 15 Value Traded 94,500.00 94,500.00

189,000

94,500.00

Quantity Traded 600 600

Value Traded 1,050.00 1,050.00

1

600

1,050.00

4

199,600

110,350.00

323,913,132

4,874,077,861.67

5,736 No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 2,018.00 19.39

Quantity Traded 16 10 Page 26

Value Traded 32,288.00 193.90 of 15 32,481.90

14

ETF Board Totals

2

26

32,481.90

ETP Activity Totals

2

26

32,481.90

NEWS 45

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

ENVIRONMENT All Bayelsa and Rivers communities get for sustaining the nation is neglect Chris Ejim YENAGOA

T

he Bayelsa State Government yesterday slammed the Federal Government and the Oil multinational companies operating in the Niger Delta region over their alleged refusal to implement the United Nations Environment Programmes's (UNEP) Environmental Assessment of Ogoni and commence the remediation of devastated communities in the region.

Bayelsa State Government through the office of the State Commissioner for Environ-

64

Oil pollution: Bayelsa slams HYPREP ment, Mr. Inuiro Wills said though the release of the UNEP report was backed with the inauguration of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in 2012,the lack of political will and failure of the Federal Government, its agencies and the oil multinationals to start the process of implementation is putting oil communities in jeopardy.

Wills, in a statement issued in Yenagoa to mark the third anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programmes's (UNEP) Environmental Assessment of Ogoni, said though the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson

The life expectancy at birth (in years) of women in Gabon in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

has tried to draw the attention of the world to the rising environmental terrorism through oil exploration and devastation, the non-implementation of the UNEP report has placed a heavy burden on the State Government.

Wills said: "The rigorous scientific study along with the ensuing report and recommendations by UNEP, the leading global environmental body, on the effects of 50 years' continuous oil pollution in Ogoniland represented a template for application or replication across hydrocarbon host communities in the country, and in Bayelsa State in particular where the scourge of oil-based environmental degradation is in its worst manifestation, largely earning Nigeria and the

20.84

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of China in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

Niger Delta the tragic distinction of being the oil pollution capital of the world."

"The inauguration of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in 2012 to implement the UNEP report, and the earlier creation of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), provided some hope that the work of compelling oil corporations, private and governmental, to respect the environmental rights of our communities and redress the damage done to them would soon start effectively. Sadly, three years after the UNEP report, that work is yet to start. In particular, HYPREP whose inaugu-

$US860.3bn The nominal GDP of Netherlands (World Bank) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

ration was attended by much fanfare is proving to be a phantom rather than a source of succour.

"In the time that has passed since then, new oil spills and gas flaring and blow outs happen as a routine in hundreds of communities in our State.

In December 2011, a massive oil spill from Shell Petroleum's Bonga facil-

ity affected coastal communities in Bayelsa and Delta States. In January 2012, a catastrophic gas blow out from Chevron's K S Endeavour rig off the Koluama coastline in Bayelsa State left the incident area ablaze for days and has put the entire lives, livelihoods and health of dwellers in the host communities in jeopardy.

Power rotation: Protesters flay cleric over comment on Chime’s successor Dominic Adewole, ASABA criticizing the powFtheorerPeoples rotation policy of Democratic

Party (PDP) in Enugu state, the Archibishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of Anglican Communion, Emmanuel Chukwuma has come under attack as protesters condemn the outburst.

The Cleric did not only dabble into the politics of the state but was accused of sponsoring campaigns of calumny against the zoning arrangement of the PDP, which now favours Enugu North Senatorial District.

The protesters, who

converged under the aegis of Nsukka Platform, Delta state chapter, condemned the outburst of the Archibishop against Gover nor Sullivan Chime, who he said, justified the bargain.

Led by their chairman, Dr. Pius C. Ike, the protesters wondered why the Archibishop who hails from Delta State abandoned his calling to heat up the polity of Enugu state.

A statement co-signed

by Dr. Ike and Dr. Leo Abonyi (Secretary), described the Archbishop as a prophet of doom, who was out to destroy the collective destiny of the Coal City state.

Glo launches 3 in 1 recharge options idely acclaimed W “King of Innovations” in Nigeria’s

L-R: District Head, Dogon-Daji, Sokoto State, Alhaji Shehu Umar; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Hon. Kawu Sumaila, during Tambuwal’s condolence visit to Alhaji Umar over the death of his five children in a motor accident…recently

Enugu 2015: Group plots to stop Asadu from running another term Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

A

group of youthful professionals from the Nsukka/IgboEze South federal constituency of Enugu state is moving to ensure that Hon. Pat Asadu who represents the constituency in the House of Representatives does not make it back to the National Assembly come 2015.

The stance of the group known as Ovogovo Young Professionals Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

T

he Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima has promised to sponsor best Borno graduates of the Nigerian Law schools

(OYP) incidentally is in tandem with the decision of the Enugu State caucus of the ruling People's Democratic Party and Governor Sullivan Chime to bar all National Assembly and State legislators who have served two terms and above from re-contesting the same positions during the coming general elections.

The OYP in their latest stand on the political situation in the State declared that it is the turn of

Nsukka West to produce the next House of Representatives member for Nsukka/ Igbo-Eze South federal constituency of Enugu state.

And they declared their desire for the people of the federal constituency to support the aspiration of Chief Oscar Okwume to replace Asadu at the National Assembly to give the area a true representation.

In a statement signed by its National president, Mr. John Eze and made

available to newsmen in Enugu, the group argued that the two other zones, East and Central in the federal constituency have had their turn with the exception of Nsukka West.

"Our agitation is in the spirit of justice, equity, and fair play, because Nsukka West has been seriously neglected and marginalised in all ramifications since the inception of the ongoing democratic dispensation in the state.

telecommunication industry, Globacom has simplified recharge options for its prepaid subscribers with the launch of the 3-in-1 Recharge Option.

Introducing the 3-in1 service to the public on Tuesday, Globacom’s Head of Operations, Mr. Bisi Koleoso explained that the proudly Nigerian company had given Glo customers the convenience of topping up their airtime credit for various services directly without going through the process of first topping up their Main Prepaid account balance before allocating the airtime for data bundles or international calls.

“Under the new recharge, customers who want to directly top up and add to their main balance are expected to dial specified numbers, while those interested in directly buying data bundle without cramming codes are not left out. Also, subscribers wishing to load International Direct Dialling (IDD) packs should dial

Shetima boosts Borno Law graduates with scholarship to study petroleum law in foreign universities across the globe.

The Governor made the promise while presenting 85 law school

students with the cheque of N300,000 each and a laptop Computer at the Government House Maiduguri yesterday.

Governor Shettima

also directed the review of their scholarship from N300, 000 to N500,000 and 400,000 for female and male students respectively and

directed the executive Secretary of the Borno State Scholarship board to immediately process the payment of the remaining balance.

are equally taken care of,” he added.

Koleoso also disclosed that customers who use the new option to load a data bundle will get an extra 385MB of data when they load a N1000 credit instead of the 350 MB of free data they would have received if they had used the conventional recharge option to load the same N1000 recharge credit.

CHANGE OF NAMES

AKANO

Former Ayinla Abiodun, now wish to be called and addressed as Ayinla Abiodun Toyin Okanlawon Akano.

Former documents remain valid. General public note.

ADEBAYO

Former Miss Jolaade F. Rufai, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Jolaade Adebayo. Former documents remain valid.

General public note.

UDOKA

I, Formerly Miss Enobong Edem Edet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Enobong Ukpong Udoka. General public take note. All documents bearing previous names remain valid.

ONWUBUCHE

Former Miss Anyaogu Chinyere Gift, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Onwubuche Chinyere Gift.

Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public note.

46 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Dickson approves N250m for students on foreign scholarship Chris Ejim

YENAGOA

ayelsa State governor, Bapproved Seriake Dickson, has N250 million to

L-R: National Vice-President, Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF), Augustine Obigbolu; Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Business Platform International Conference, Ezenwoye Marcel and Director of the Mobilisation, Patrick Nwanze, during the pre-conference press briefing on International Conference on Nigeria Service Sector, in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

5%

The percentage population of women above 60 years in Chad in 2012.

Source: Un.org

5.41%

The percentage increase of air travel passengers (international wing) of Port Harcourt airport (2012-2013) Source: National Bureau of Statistics

26.19

The average age of South Korea team in the just concluded Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Telegraph.co.uk

APC accuses Yero of desperation ahead of 2015 Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State yesterday accused Governor Muktar Yero, of desperation ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Yero was accused of allegedly directing his political aides from southern Kaduna to organise a solidarity ral-

ly and endorse him for 2015; Kaduna APC Justice Forum confirmed this yesterday.

In a press statement issued by Mohammed Musa Soba, the forum’s secretary, the group said the move was part of the governor’s desperation for re-election ahead of the 2015 polls.

The forum queried a situation where a sitting governor will allegedly use the instrument of

coercion to force political aides into submission, arguing that ordinarily, the forum has no quarrel with people’s right to endorse their preferred candidates.

“We believe the people of Southern Kaduna are very much aware of their recent political history and the contempt with which they are being treated by the PDP political family,” the statement noted, adding

that; “We urge the good people of Southern Kaduna to resist the temptation of being used as sacrificial lamb once again by a lame duck administration.”

According to the statement, Yero’s endorsement by any group or community in Kaduna State under whatever guise will be an endorsement of underdevelopment and political uncertainties.

the state scholarship board to offset the government’s foreign scholarship obligations in Russia, Malaysia and other parts of the world.

The new approval came after the government only recently paid its students in the United Kingdom.

The governor, who also ordered the immediate release of the money, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the students under government scholarship, stressing that, the scholarship board has been mandated to fasttrack the remittance of the money to the students and the various institutions concerned.

He equally urged the students to be patient, assuring that efforts were in

top gear at ensuring that the money is remitted by the end of the month.

Governor Dickson expressed regret over the undue delay in the remittance of funds to the students, blaming it on bank procedures, which must be complied with for such transfers to be effected.

He also reaffirmed the government’s resolve to fulfill its scholarship obligations, despite the unexpected decline in the state’s revenue from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). He assured that steps would be taken to forestall any delay in the process in future.

On his part, Chairman of the Bayela State Scholarship Board, Evangelist Foster Ogola, appealed to students on government scholarship to exercise restraint, as the board was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that money meant for them are remitted to them as at when due.

Group seeks independent inquiry into military slaughter video Tunde Oyesina

ABUJA

g roup, AN epolitical Human Rights Agenda t wo rk (HRAN)

yesterday called on the Federal Government to set up an independent judicial inquiry into the military slaughter video that allegedly emerged from Borno State few days ago.

The video footage showed uniformed military men slitting the throats of defenseless detainees in Borno State in what was described as the most horrific and brazen act of impunity by the Nigerian military in recent times.

The footage was reported to have been uncovered

by Amnesty International (AI), who through investigations, was able to verify the date and location of the execution style murders.

Reports further have it that military sources also confirmed that the uniformed men were helped by the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTK) and the footage clearly shows the CJTK assisting the soldiers in lining the detainees up, cutting their throats and pushing their corpses into mass graves.

The footage was also said to highlight that the incident of extra-judicial killings by the military is not a one off thing as civilians were shown being rounded up by soldiers and the CJTK and their bodies lying lifeless in the streets the following day.

Council boss berates lawmaker over attack on Akpabio

Osun guber race: AA petitions INEC over replacement of candidate

Tony Anichebe

Ibadan

Uyo

T

he Chairman of Oron Local Government in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Orman Esin, has condemned in strong terms the recent media attack on Governor Godswill Akpabio, by the member representing Oron federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Robinson Uwak.

In a press statement signed by Esin, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, the council boss said whatever may have been his grievances against the governor; Uwak has a myriad of op-

portunities through which he could access the governor to iron out such issues.

According to Esin, going by our tradition and custom, if for any reason a son has an issue with his father, it behooves him, by virtue of his placement as a son, to apply decorum and humbly present his case.

Commenting on Uwak’s allegation that the governor caused the stoppage of the airing of his documentary billed to be broadcast on the AIT, Esin described such as unwarranted.

Making reference to Chief Godswill Akpabio’s transformation agenda, the Oron Local Government

chairman said indeed the last seven years has been a rewarding one not only for the people of Oron Local Government and by extension the Oron nation, but also for the whole state.

Esin, who rhetorically asked; “Before the emergence of the present administration, how was Akwa Ibom?” said although no single administration can successfully provide all the dividends of democracy to the people, yet within the limited resources accruable to the state, the governor has tried his best to develop the state to the admiration of all.

Sola Adeyemo

arely three days to the Belection, Osun State governorship the South-West

zone of Action Alliance (AA) has petitioned the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, over the replacement of the party's gubernatorial candidate with another person unknown to the party.

In the petition signed by the party's Zonal Secretary, Olu Omotoso, a copy of which was made available to journalists yesterday, the Assistant Director, Po-

litical Party Monitoring and Liason, Aminu Idris, was alleged to have been used within the agency to perpetrate the heinous act.

At its zonal meeting held in Osogbo, a decision was taken to write the petition in the belief that the INEC official was carrying out the act in connivance with two of the former leaders of the party, Taiwo Otegbeye and Tunde Kelani, who had earlier been suspended by the party. Idris was alleged to have prevented the Osun State INEC monitors from attending the primary, which ultimately produced Olaniyi Anthony Fadaunsi, as the gubernatorial candidate of the party.

The party insisted that no other primary election was held by the Osun State executive of the party, but to its surprise, Tunde Kelani, the suspended national chairman in connivance with Aminu, published one Oralusi, who had never been a member of the party and who was resident overseas as at that time.

“It is surprising that your Assistant Director on Political Party Monitoring, Mr. Aminu Idris, is actively conniving with Tunde Anifowose Kelani and Taiwo Otebeye and their APC collaborators to ruin our party and shield the duo from the disciplinary measures of the party,” AA said.

NEWS 47

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

LG poll: Delta APC leaders harps on fair play Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

he leadership of the Tdent Delta State IndepenElectoral Commis-

L-R: Country Director, United Nations Programe on HIV and AIDS, Dr. Bilali Kamara; Director-General, National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Prof. John Idoko and Director, Prevention, Care and Treatment, Family Health International 360 Nigeria, Dr. Hadiza Khamofu, at a consultation on the role of HIV in Post-2015 Development Agenda in Abuja…yesterday

2.8

The average number of cautions (yellow cards) per match at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

300,000

The total area (in sq. km) of Philippines.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

N1.51bn

The IGR realized from PAYE (taxes) of Adamawa State in 2010.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Kwara pays off N17bn bond FREE

While other states may die paying debts in curred by present and past leaders, Kwarans vahe every reason to rejoice Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

K

wara State government yesterday said it has redeemed the N17 billion bond obtained in 2009 for infrastructural development projects in the state.

According to a Government House state-

ment, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, announced the redemption during a meeting with stakeholders in Ilorin. He expressed satisfaction that the state has met all its obligations under the bond. The statement was signed by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor, Dr. Muideen Akorede.

The statement quoted the governor as saying that the N17 billion was used for the Kwara State University, Malete, the International Aviation College, Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre, the Ilorin Township Stadium, Ilorin Wa-

ter Reticulation Project (Phase One) as well as road and electrification projects across the state.

Gover nor Ahmed said information from the capital market indicates that the market is excited and reinvigorated in their interest to subscribe to the Kwara State proposed N23 billion bond for more infrastructural development.

He expressed confidence that the new facility when obtained will also be judiciously utilised and serviced by the state government in line with established tradition.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Senior

Kano sets up emergency centre for Ebola

Muhammad Kabir KANO

T

he Kano State Government has setup a Special Isolated Centre to tackle reported cases of the Ebola virus in the

state. That is in addition to the acquiring of over 30 personal protection gloves against the virus.

Speaking in a special broadcasting to the state, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, noted that it

PUBLIC NOTICE

NEW RISE INNER CAUCUS SOCIAL CLUB OF NIGERIA

The general public is hereby informed that the above named SOCIAL CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ” C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

Members of the Board of Trustees: 1 Mr Ekene Ike - Chairman 2 Mr Chukwudi Chukwujama - Vice-Chairman 3 Mr Emenike Obidi - General Secretary 4 Prince Uche Metu - Financial Secretary 5 Mr Chijoke Udemezue - Treasurer 6. Mr Emeka Orakwelu 7 Mr Chidi Anene 8 Mr Promise Ike 9 Mr Udude Joseph 10 Mr Leonard Akpa Echezona AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote unity, peace and progress among its members 2. To promote friendly relationship and social activities among its members 3 To settle dispute among its members Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Irosi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed : MR EMENIKE OBIDI (GENERAL SECRETARY)

has become imperative for his government to be proactive against the deadly disease in view of the commercial nature of the state, which harbours many traders from across the African Sub-Saharan cities.

He said: “Although the case is still at its infant level, even in Lagos, where two people were reported to have died from the disease, it is necessary for every responsible government to be proactive and put in place every mechanism that will curtail the possible outbreak of the case in Kano.”

He added that they have also setup a special Medical team, under Dr Nasiru Muhammad, with other experts, who seriously deliberated on the issue and have submitted their reports to government, which gave them further mandate to ensure that Kano is free from the disease.

Kwankwaso noted that

Special Assistant to the Governor on Investment Promotion and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Ogunshola, said over the life of the bond, the government never defaulted in the payment of coupons to bond holders on June 15 and December 15 of every year.

Ogunsola said the 14 per cent fixed rate fiveyear bond maintained an issue rating of A and issuer rating of Bbb issued by Agusto and Co rating, a pan-African agency. According to him, this signifies the superior quality credit profile of the Kwara State government. his government has set aside all the necessary funds needed and other vital equipments to curtail the Ebola disease, should it been spread to Kano, “but God’s willing even the Lagos case will certainly be curtailled with all the serious attentions given to it by the government there”.

Speaking further, Nasiru, who is the Chairman of the health committee, told Journalists that their main job is to ensure that people are aware of the disease and to also provide hygiene advice on how they will leave in a clean environment and ensure that nobody is been affected by the Ebola virus.

Muhammad also urged people to desist from eating bush meat, ensure clean environment, wash their hands whenever they come out of toilets, and make sure that they clean where they sleep thoroughly before sleeping.

sion (DSIEC) was yesterday warned to ensure a free and fair election in Udu Local Government during the October 25 council polls.

A leader of the All Progressives Party (APC) and former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Harvest Igben, who gave this warning yesterday during a formal declaration by councillorship aspirants of APC in Udu ahead of the forthcoming election, also alleged that PDP leaders are already allotting names to themselves to be announced as winners of the elections.

He said: “I am here to tell you all categorically

that the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has assured all residents of a free and fair election come October 25 and DSIEC has been given enough fund to conduct a free and credible election.

DSIEC boss, Moses Ogbe, must therefore justify the N4.6 billion given to the commission.

I want to further say that APC is aware of the rumour that PDP leaders are allegedly allotting names to themselves to be announced as winners of the election.”

The two time member and former Minority Leader of the House further instructed the people to be very vigilant and see that votes are counted in their various voting units and results announced before leaving the units.

Ondo PDP faults Mimiko Babatope Okeowo AKURE

ndo State chapter of OParty Peoples Democratic (PDP) yesterday

faulted Governor Olusegun Mimiko, on the paper he delivered on the ideas of progressivism, which he said has brought unprecedented development into the state.

The party in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, said the almost seven years of Mimiko as governor, rather than bring development into the state, has brought underdevelopment in all strata of the economy.

Mimiko in his lecture delivered at the Yoruba Tennis Court business luncheon titled; “Progressivism as an Ideological Instrument for Social Integration,” said the state has attained wide material wealth distribution because his administration has facilitated and created enabling environment for manufactur-

ers, factories, small scale businesses and other entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the progressive credentials of his administration, he said his avowals and practice of progressive ethos have positively affected the lives of the downtrodden, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare, urban renewal, community development and wealth creation.

He said: “We have, in the last few years, revamped education and healthcare services without compromising quality and standard, enhanced universal access and quality education assurance and ensured that the vulnerable groups have access to free and qualitative healthcare.”

However, the opposition PDP said the claim “is patently false and mischievously calculated to misinform and deceive the nation that Mimiko is a success as governor, when in actual fact, he is an unmitigated failure.”

TECNO Mobile unveils Phantom Z phones in Nigeria Sony Neme ECNO Mobile, a brand THoldings, under TRANSSION has made a

bold step of market dominance in Smartphone technology within Africa with the unveiling of the Phantom Z. The event which took place in Lagos, also saw 10 lucky winners with a Phantom Z each.

The Deputy General Manager, TECNO Mobile, Mr. Chidi Okonkwo, in his remark, said that the entrant of Phantom Z is a great milestone for the company because it

offers superior features for Smartphone users.

According to him: “Phantom Z is about to revolutionalize how Smartphone is being used in Nigeria. It also comes with a data bundle from MTN, Etisalat, Glo and Airtel. Our products have won several prestigious awards in the last two years. We will continue to put effort in research and innovation because the brand is highly favored among consumers due to its quality. Hence, Phantom Z is here to raise the bar within the Smartphone market.”

48 NEWS

Osun 2014

Adeyeye: APC comments on 2015 polls treasonable

M

inister of State for Works, Mr. Adedayo Adeyeye, yesterday warned APC leaders against inflammatory statements that could promote violence in the country.

Adeyeye, who gave the warning in a release issued in Ado-Ekiti, described as treasonable, the statement credited to APC National Chairman, Mr. John Odigie-Oyegun, that the party would form a parallel government should PDP win the 2015 presidential election.

The release was signed by the Director General of Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Mr. Bisi Kolawole.

The minister, who cautioned APC leaders against instigating bloodshed, said: “It amounts to hatred for Nigeria as a nation and an insult on Ekiti people for anyone to claim that the mandate freely given to Mr. Ayodele Fayose, was a stolen one.

“How can anyone describe votes freely given by the people in the June 21 governorship election as a stolen one?

“It is unbecoming of a party that wants to rule Nigeria to be threatening to cause anarchy in the country. “Nigerians must begin to take note of what the APC intends to do in 2015, because it will definitely lose the presidential

and other elections scandalously.” Adeyeye, however, said that the threat must not be taken lightly.

“By their attitude, any election they did not win is rigged, therefore, if the APC loses the 2015 presidential election, they will claim that the election was rigged," Adeyeye said.

“There is nothing the APC can do that the party will not lose, because President Goodluck Jonathan, will be re-elected come 2015."

“The APC will therefore throw the entire country into chaos by forming a parallel government and I can assure you that it will be their undoing,” Adeyeye added.

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

SON destroys N8.5m fake products in Ekiti Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State office of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) yesterday destroyed fake and substandard products valued at N8.5 million in Ado-Ekiti.

The items destroyed by the agency included fake electric cables, vehicle tyres, expired supermarket consumables and products such as detergents, cereals, snacks, vegetable oil and margarine.

Ekiti State Head of SON, Mr. Rilwan Fashina, who supervised the destruction, said the items were seized with the help of local resi-

We’ve nothing to do with Omisore, says SDP Adeolu Adeyemo, Mojeed Alabi

OSOGBO

O

sun State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop deceiving the people that it has adopted the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, as its candidate for the August 9 governorship election.

The party in a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Ademola Isola, frowned on the claim, calling it a deceit.

SDP said it denounces such falsehood and the “party frowned on this

type of shameful political tactics few hours to the governorship election. Once again, the SDP candidate, Olusegun Akinwusi, is standing for this election.

“We hereby dissociate ourselves from a statement credited to some political parties that our party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has adopted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, as our candidate for the August 9 election.

“According to Isola, this is misleading and fraudulent on the part of those who purportedly issued this statement. We have said it

several times that SDP has no pact with any political party in this election. SDP is a unique party that has nothing to do with people of doubtful character.

“Our party has presented the best candidate, Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi, to stand for this election and we are sure of winning the poll without any iota of doubt.

“We call on security agents to arrest, without delay, those who issued such statement signed without names of the signatory. To SDP, we ask: who signed for SDP? This is fraud in its entirety.”

MURIC kicks against victimisation of opposition members Temitope Ogunbanke

he Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) yesterday expressed displeasure over the alleged arrest of an All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Obokun Local Government in Osun State, Hon. Yemi Oke, by security agents described as “Special Forces” who came from Abuja.

Kicking against the alleged arrest in Oshogbo, MURIC Director, Prof.

T

Ishaq Akintola, in a statement made available to New Telegraph said it will amount to political naivety to claim ignorance of the likely motive behind the clampdown on the opposition few days to an election.

The group said: “Arrest of leaders or members of the opposition is most likely to create tension, drive them underground and militarise them."

This was the precursor of the famous ‘Operation Wetie,’ which turned the

South-West into the Wild, Wild West of the 60s.

“MURIC calls the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) election observers and the international community to the game plan of the Federal Government. Can anyone match the federal government’s declarations with its actions? When did election turn into war that soldiers in full battle gear must breathe down on the electorate?

fake gas cylinders from the market.

He said the fake gas cylinders, which he described as “life danger products” had already been evacuated and transported to its Lagos office for proper action since the Ekiti office of SON do not have facility to destroy them.

The SON boss said the organisation was committed to the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda, using the instrument of standardisation as yardsticks.

He urged residents to steer clear of activities capable of putting lives of their families in danger by avoiding products that are too cheap in the open market.

SURE-P boss lists achievements Elijah Samuel

he Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), General Martin Agwai (rtd.), has listed the modest achievements and activities of the programme in the country, which he said can be seen across the states.

SURE-P is the agency set up by the Federal Government in the wake of the partial removal of subsidy on petroleum products in 2012.

Proceeds from the removal were to be re-investment into the economy to empowerment Nigerians.

T

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Isiaka Ajimobi of Oyo; Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, during the APC mega rally in Osogbo....on Tuesday

dents, who volunteered information to his agency.

According to him, officers of SON in the Ekiti State office usually disguised to be familiar customers and move from one sales outlet to the other to buy goods that are under suspicion.

He said his men would later conduct tests on the purchased items, and thereafter swoop on such erring outlets if goods bought are found to be fake, adulterated or expired, and later hand over the culprits involved to the police for prosecution.

Asidetheseizeditemsthat wereburnt,Fashinasaidthat SON operatives in the state also confiscated a number of

Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos, Agwai, who was assisted by other members of the agency, said in the face of the enormous tasks which the agency was saddled with, it has recorded modest achievements.

He said: “We have removed a lot of people from the streets into programmes that are designed for their empowerment.

By the time they finish, they will be able to have their own websites and be agents of employment that will employ people, rather than going round looking for jobs.

“Let’s assume that we

train about 500 people; and if those 500 people will employ two people each, we would have been able to remove 1,000 people from the streets. It may not be in the quantum the people are expecting; but I believe, like the little drops of water that makes the ocean, we will get there.”

He added: “On LagosIbadan Expressway, we have done less that 10 per cent of a contract that will finish in 2017. At the end, we will have six lanes (three on each side) from Lagos to Shagamu, and four lanes, two on each side, from Shagamu to Ibadan.

FCT Minister moves departmental heads Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

M

inister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday carried out a major reshuffle in the administration of the territory that affected several directors.

In the exercise, Mohammed approved the immediate appointment of Mr. Salihu Hawat Mohammed, as the new Director of Establishment and Training.

The new Director of Establishment and Training is a 1984 Public Administration graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a holder of Master’s Degree in Political Economy from the University of Abuja.

Mohammed got into the services of the Niger State government in 1985, before transferring his services to the FCT Administration in 1993.

Other directors affected by the new development include Mallam Bashir Mohammed, former Director of Security, now moved to the FCT Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board as director. He replaces Hajiya Fatima S. Gumi; while Engineer Jibrin Ibrahim, Director of Special Duties is to take charge of the Security Department.

Former Director, Administration and Finance (DAF) in the Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB), Mrs. Habeeba Babata Su-

laiman, has been moved to Legal Services Secretariat as Director of Administration and Finance; while Mr. Tony Edekobi of the Legal Services Secretariat has been redeployed to PHCDB as Director of Admin and Finance.

Mrs. A. I. Odey-Achu, Director of Administration and Finance, FCT Emergency Management Department has also been redeployed to Health and Human Services Secretariat as Director of Administration and Finance.

Meanwhile, the Minister has also approved the appointment of Hajiya Safiya T. Umar, as Acting Director, Administration and Finance, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC).

Extraordinary review tariff to attract N2m, says NERC Johnchuks Onuanyim

Abuja

T

o regulate the demand of the review of tariff in the power sector, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday announced N2 million for any electricity company seeking for an extra-ordi-

nary review of the current tariff structure.

This was made known in a paper: “Regulation for Tariff Review in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry,” presented by the Head, Tariff and Rates, NERC, Dr. Haliru Dikko, at the public consultation on Draft Regula-

tions for Rate Review and Investment in electricity networks.

“The regulation gives a detailed analysis of the responsibilities of tariff review applicants, timelines, costs, submissions requirements and guidelines to be followed when applying for a rate review.”

AFRICA | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

49

Trial end approaches for Oscar Pistorius

P

rosecutors and lawyers for Oscar Pistorius have one last chance to convince a South African judge when they present closing arguments this week in the murder trial of the once-celebrated athlete who fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a toilet cubicle door in his home. Both sides will summarize their versions of the shooting to Thokozile Masipa, today and tomorrow, the red-robed judge who will determine the fate of the double-amputee Olympic runner.

Masipa has sat impassively through most proceedings since the globally televised trial began four months ago in a Pretoria courthouse, but legal experts say she may now, in this final stage, reveal insights into her thinking about the sensational case.”The judge will show where her allegiance lies once she starts asking questions,” said Marius du Toit, a former prosecutor and now defense lawyer who is not involved in the trial. “The party that gets hammered by the judge when arguing is the party that’s got the short end of the stick when it comes to the ruling.”

Masipa can interrogate prosecutor GerrieNel and chief defense lawyer Barry Roux on their explanations for the killing and evidence in the court record, which amounts to thousands of pages. The prosecution says Pistorius, 27, intentionally shot 29-year-old Steenkamp multiple times before dawn on Feb. 14, 2013 in a fit of anger after a fight. The defense counters that he fired by mistake, fearing for his life after think-

ing an intruder was in the toilet cubicle and Steenkamp was in the bedroom. Masipa has maintained an air of neutrality while overlooking the courtroom from her chair on a dais through weeks of testimony by dozens of witnesses.”Now the judge’s true colors will in fact be shown,” said John Welch, a former high-ranking lawyer with South Africa’s national prosecutors’ office. “Many judges like to ask questions ... things that have bugged them or bothered them during the trial.”

Because South Africa has no trial by jury, Masipa will decide with the help of two legal assistants if Pistorius committed murder, is guilty of a negligent killing, or if he made a tragic error and should be acquitted. The runner faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder, and also would be sent to prison for years if guilty of murder without premeditation or culpable homicide. He faces three separate firearm charges, and pleaded not guilty to all four counts.The prosecution has accused Pistorius of being a hot-headed egotist who carried a gun everywhere he went, and alleges he twice shot a firearm in public before the Valentine’s Day killing. Pistorius’ defense has portrayed him as mentally fragile, a disabled man who lived in fear of crime and who was terrified when he stood on just his stumps in the dark and fired four shots into the toilet cubicle door.Before he killed Steenkamp, Pistorius was praised worldwide as a symbol of the triumph of determination over adversity, and he made history by running on his carbon-fiber running blades at the Olympics in 2012.

Trial witnesses included

Egypt upholds death sentence for 12 for murder of policeman

A

n Egyptian court upheld death sentences yesterday against 12 Muslim Brotherhood supporters convicted of killing a police officer last year, judicial sources said.

Judge MoatazKhafagy first passed the sentence against the men in June and referred the case to the country’s highest Sunni Muslim authority for approval, which is required before any execution can be carried out.

The men were charged in connection with violence that erupted when police stormed the town of Kerdasa near Cairo in September and arrested dozens of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi. A month earlier security forces had crushed two pro-Mursi protest camps in Cairo and killed hundreds of his supporters. Then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi launched his crackdown on Islamists after ousting Mursi last year following mass protests against his rule.Sisi, who took office as president in June, has said the Brotherhood would cease to exist in his presidency.

Seven of those sentenced to death were present in court when the judge read the ruling. The remaining five are on the run.

The defendants still have the right to appeal the ruling.

Nine other defendants were sentenced to life in prison, the judicial sources said. The defendants present chanted “God is Greater!” when the judge read the verdict. The men were also convicted of belonging to the Brotherhood, which was designated a terrorist organisation last year.

The group was Egypt’s best organised political force until the state crackdown against it.The ruling follows the confirmation of death sentences against Mohamed Badie, the leader of the Brotherhood, and nearly 200 supporters in June. Hundreds more suspected supporters of Mursi and his Brotherhood are awaiting final decisions after their death sentences were referred to the Mufti, the top religious authority in the land. The cases have provoked outrage among rights groups and Western

Pistorius’ neighbors, friends, an ex-girlfriend, his agent and his physician, as well as a long list of forensic and ballistic specialists. At times, Pistorius vomited, wailed and sobbed in the courtroom, and a psychiatrist testified he was suffering from an anxietdisorder when he shot Steenkamp.

The trial was postponed for a month while Pistori-

us was examined at a state mental facility. Masipa will adjourn the trial after arguments to consider her judgment, a delay that could be a week or over a month, according to various analysts.

They say the burden is on the prosecution to leave no reasonable doubt in Masipa’s mind that Pistorius was intent on killing when

he opened fire. Nel and Roux will have to summarize weeks of sometimes complex testimony into a convincing final explanation lasting just a few hours, according to former prosecutor Welch.He said: “A true lawyer is measured during the arguments because this is now when we get to the nitty-gritty of the matter.”

Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius arrives in court ahead of his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria March 3, 2014. “Blade Runner” Pistorius pleaded not guilty

Ugandan parliament set to re-introduce anti-gay law

U

ganda’s parliament will try to re-introduce an anti-homosexuality law that was thrown out by a court, a lawmaker leading the effort said on Wednesday, a move that could once again damage relations with the West.

Last week, the east African country’s constitutional court nullified the law, signed

by President Yoweri Museveni in February, on a technicality, saying it had been passed by parliament without quorum.

That ruling - two days before the president flew to Washington for a U.S.Africa summit - appeared to have handed Museveni a way out of a dilemma by striking down a law that he had backed enthusiastically but which was condemned

by Western countries and threatened vital aid and investment.

It was not immediately clear whether Museveni would support the bill a second time, if passed by parliament again.

“We’re mobilizing members to pledge their support for reintroduction of this bill when the House comes back from recess (in about two weeks’ time),” Abdu Latif Ssebaggala.

Ssebaggala said he had started collecting signatures two days of members of parliament in favor of reintroducing the bill and that he expected to have over 200 - in a house of 383 members.

Homosexuality is taboo in much of Africa and is illegal in 37 countries there. But the punishments in Uganda were among the harshest.

Under the Anti-Homosexuality Act, the crime of “aggravated homosexuality” - someone with HIV having gay sex or anyone having gay sex with

someone considered “vulnerable”, such as a disabled person - was punishable by life in jail.

The United States, Uganda’s biggest donor, called the law “atrocious” and compared it to anti-Semitic laws in Nazi Germany and apartheid in South Africa. In June, Washington reduced aid, imposed visa restrictions and canceled a military exercise with Uganda in response. The World Bank, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands also suspended or redirected aid. Sweden resumed financial support to Uganda last week.

During the bill signing, Museveni said homosexuality was emblematic of the West’s “social imperialism” in Africa. Powerful Christian groups with links to U.S. evangelical movements call homosexuality an imported Western social evil.

Libya’s extremists tighten grip over Benghazi

A

n umbrella group for eastern Libya’s extremist militias says it overran three more army bases in the eastern city of Benghazi and seized large amounts of heavy weapons, including armored vehicles, as they tighten their grip on the country’s second city. The Benghazi Revolution-

ary Shura Council, composed of extremist militias like Ansar al-Shariah, posted pictures yesterday of its leaders posing in front of tanks, multiple rocket launchers, and artillery they claimed to have seized from the bases they overran.

The pictures could not be

independently verified but in the past weeks the militants seized several other bases belonging to the remnants of the Libyan army.The Islamist militias launched a counteroffensive after units loyal to a renegade army general attempted to dislodge them from the city months earlier.

50

WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Gaza ceasefire holding on second day, talks under way

A

Gaza truce was holding yesterday as Egyptian mediators pursued talks with Israeli and Palestinian representatives on an enduring end to a war that has devastated the Hamas Islamist- dominated enclave.

Egypt’s intelligence chief met a Palestinian delegation in Cairo, the state news agency MENA said, a day after he conferred with Israeli representatives.

The Palestinian team, led by an official from Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party, includes envoys from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group. “The indirect talks between the Palestinians and Israelis are moving forward,” one Egyptian official said, mak-

ing clear that the opposing sides were not meeting face to face. “It is still too early to talk about outcomes but we are optimistic.”

Egyptian and Palestinian sources said they expected yesterday, an initial response by Israel to Palestinian demands, which it has so far shown no sign of accepting. Israel withdrew ground forces from the Gaza Strip two days ago and started a 72-hour Egyptianbrokered ceasefire with Hamas as a first step towards a longterm deal.In Gaza, where some half-million people have been displaced by a month of bloodshed, some residents left U.N. shelters to trek back to neighborhoods where whole

blocks have been destroyed by Israeli shelling and the smell of decomposing bodies fills the air.Streets in towns in southern Israel, which had been under daily rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, were filled again with playing children. The military said that a rocket-warning siren that sounded in the south in the afternoon was a false alarm.

Palestinians want an end to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade on impoverished Gaza and the release of prisoners, including those Israel arrested in a June crackdown in the occupied West Bank after three Jewish seminary students were kidnapped and killed.

Israel has resisted those de-

Palestinians search for victims as people gather atop the remains of a house, which witnesses said was destroyed in an Israeli air strike, in Rafah in the southern Gaza.

Kansas Republican senator Roberts fights off Tea Party challenger

V

eteran Republican Senator Pat Roberts fought off a Kansas primary challenge by a Tea Partybacked doctor who had promised a “family feud” with his distant relative President Barack Obama if elected, results showed yesterday.

Roberts secured 48 percent of the vote and Milton Wolf 41 percent in the four-candidate field, according to final but unofficial results, the Kansas secretary of state said. Roberts has had a 47-year career in Congress and faced conservative challenger Wolf, who said he wanted to “save the Republic.”Wolf acknowledged a distant family tie to Obama but built his campaign on promises to repeal many of the Democratic president’s policies. In an interview with CNN, Wolf promised “the mother of all family feuds to save America,” if elected.

In primary battles ahead of November’s midterm elections, Roberts’ showing marked a victory for an incumbent Republican, a pattern that played out more broadly as voters went to the polls in other U.S. states two days ago. Missouri, Michigan

and Washington State also held primaries.In Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Pompeo won 63 percent of the vote to beat challenger Todd Tiahrt with 37 percent.Pompeo, backed by powerful food and agriculture companies, has introduced legislation to nullify state efforts to require labeling on foods made from genetically modified crops.

In Missouri, Republican John “Jay” Ashcroft - whose father, John Ashcroft, was Missouri governor, U.S. attorney general and a U.S. senator - won about 54 percent of the vote in his bid for an open seat in the state senate against attorney Jack Spooner, who carried nearly 36 percent with all precincts reporting.

Five of Missouri’s U.S. Representatives face primary challengers but are expected to hold their seats going into November’s election.In the Republican primary in Michigan, Tea Party-backed incumbent Justin Amash, member of a rebel group of U.S. House conservatives known for their resistance to compromise, declared victory over challenger Brian Ellis.

Also in Michigan, U.S. Representative Kerry Bentivolio, a reindeer farmer and Santa Claus impersonator, was defeated by challenger Dave Trott, making Bentivolio the third incumbent Republican congressman to lose in a primary so far this year.

In Washington state’s fight to represent the 1st Congressional District, early results in the vote-by-mail race showed Republican Robert Sutherland narrowly beating retired Microsoft engineer Pedro Celis, each with about 15 percent of the vote.Celis, former chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, was expected to win the primary easily to face off in November against the incumbent Democrat, U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene.In the state’s 4th District, ex-Washington Redskins football player Clint Didier seemed likely square off against former state agriculture director Dan Newhouse, in a Republicanagainst-Republican race to succeed retiring 10-term U.S. Congressman Richard “Doc” Hastings.

mands. “For Israel the most important issue is the issue of demilitarization. We must prevent Hamas from rearming, we must demilitarize the Gaza Strip,” Mark Regev, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in an interview on the BBC’s HARD talk program, also spoke of a need for Hamas to decommis-

sion its rocket arsenal.”What we want to do is support the Palestinians and their desire to improve their lives and to be able to open crossings and get food in and reconstruct and have greater freedom,” Kerry said.”But that has to come with a greater responsibility towards Israel, which means giving up rockets, moving into a different plane,” he said.

Ukraine: Fresh fighting claims 18 soldiers

E

ighteen Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and 54 injured in fresh fighting with separatist rebels, a military spokesman said yesterday.

The spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said government forces had clashed with separatists 25 times in parts of eastern Ukraine near the Russian border in the 24 hours up to yesterday as they continued to squeeze rebel positions.Ukrainian forces, he said, had again been shelled from inside Russian territory while Ukrainian frontier guards near the border town of Luhansk had come under a four-hour mortar and artillery attack.”In the past 24 hours 18 service personnel have been killed in battle and 54 have been wounded,” he told journalists, saying casualties had been sustained in several different incidents in the east.

Government troops have been battling the rebels since April in the Russian-speaking east in a conflict which the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says has cost the lives of more than 1,100 people, including government forces, rebels and civilians.The new overnight deaths among government forces suggest that Kiev military losses now total around 400.Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia

of orchestrating the revolt and arming the rebels - something denied by Moscow. The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia. Fighting has intensified since the shooting down of a Malaysian airliner last month, killing all 298 people on board an act the West laid at the door of the rebels. Russia and the rebels blame the disaster on Kiev’s military offensive.

Residents in Donetsk, east Ukraine’s main industrial hub and now the main redoubt of the rebels, said Ukrainian warplanes had carried out air strikes overnight.One resident, who gave only her first name of Svetlana, said: “It was terrible.

It was the most powerful strike we have had. The walls of the apartment shook when it (the missile) struck the market and the bus stop next to it”.

Lysenko, questioned over the reports, denied that Ukrainian planes had carried out air strikes on the town of nearly one million and said the only Ukrainian plane near the town had been an aircraft providing communications support for troops on the ground.”The Ukrainian military does not bomb the towns of Donetsk and Luhansk or any other similar populated places,” he said.

US drone strikes 7 militants in Waziristan

T

he strike took place in DattaKhel, a town in North Waziristan where the Pakistani army has been carrying out a major offensive against local and foreign militants since June 15, the officials said.The identity of the slain men was not immediately known, and it was also not clear which group of militants was the target.

The intelligence officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, provided no further information.U.S. drone strikes are a serious source of tension between Washington and Islamabad. Pakistan routinely denounces the strikes as a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

The Pakistani Taliban and their allies have been waging a bloody insurgency against the government for years that has killed tens of thousands of civilians and security personnel.

The militant groups oppose Pakistan’s unpopular alliance with the U.S. and are trying to overthrow the government in Islamabad.Washington for years had pushed Islamabad for a military operation against militants in North Waziristan, who are also accused of attacking NATO and U.S. forces in neighboring Afghanistan.

Despite this international pressure, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after coming into power last year initiated peace talks with the Taliban to end the violence. Sharif urged Washington to halt drone strikes at least during his peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.

But the talks collapsed after militants attacked the country’s busiest airport in the southern port city of Karachi, prompting Sharif to order an operation in North Waziristan.Just days after the airport siege, Washington also resumed drone strikes in North Waziristan after a nearly six-month lull.

SPORT

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ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS

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51

Algeria became the first African team to score four goals in a World Cup game when they beat South Korea 4-2

thursday, august 7, 2014

Boro coach relishes Omeruo’s World Cup experience Charles Ogundiya

M

iddlesbrough manager, Aitor Karanka, has revealed that the experience garnered by Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, will be a big plus for his team when the English Championship begins this weekend.

Middlesbrough will host Birmingham on Saturday in their season opener and Karanka added that he was expecting Omeruo to be a better player after the World Cup in Brazil.

“He was handed the opportunity to play in the World Cup and he is now coming back to us a better player,” Karanka told the

club website.

“He is a very important player to us. He is someone I love to have with us because he’s a player who came here from Chelsea and his mood was always perfect. He was always happy and fighting for his position.”

Omeruo played all four matches involving Nigeria

at Brazil 2014.

The 20-year-old made 14 appearances for the Championship team last season after he made a switch from Stamford Bridge to the Riverside in January on loan.

He is back on a second loan spell with Middlesbrough despite interest from EPL sides like Hull City and QPR.

Commonwealth Games fallout

Athletes return with tales of woe

Ajibade Olusesan

T

eam Nigeria athletes arrived the country with lamentations about how they were poorly treated before and during the just concluded 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Nigeria finished in 8th position with a total of 36 medals, 11 of them gold at the 20th edition of the games.

The country also won 11 silver and 14 bronze medals.

But many of the athletes who spoke with New Telegraph upon their arrival in Lagos said that they cannot forget their resentment for government insensitivity to their plight in the euphoria of the team’s success in Glasgow.

They said government cannot take glory for the success of the team because the athletes who won medals achieved the feats by sheer determination and not as a result of good preparation and support from government.

The athletes argued that although Nigeria’s preparations ahead of major competitions were not always perfect; things became more worrisome during the build-up to Glasgow.

It was also alleged that the Super Eagles participation at the recently held World Cup in Brazil was a big distraction to Team Nigeria as the ministry of sports’ top shots were all in Brazil for the football fiesta which gulped about N2billion.

“There was nobody to talk to during the World Cup especially as there was crisis in the team over money and other issues. It is a shame that its only football that gets all the attention in Nigeria and yet they have not recorded as much success as we see in other sports. Football has just one gold at the Olympic games but wrestling alone can fetch the country up to eight gold with good preparation. It was after the Eagles crashed out that Nigeria started preparing for Glasgow and that was just less than two weeks to the event,” one of the athletes said on Tuesday at the airport.

Other athletes told our correspondent that they were exposed to international embarrassment because there were no kits for them to use.

“I can’t imagine that we went to a big competition like that without kits. Athletes from other countries were moving about in their national colours, but we didn’t have tracks suits and other kits, we couldn’t min-

gle with our colleagues, it was too shameful for us to interact with them. Honestly, we felt so bad about it and I hope things like this don’t happen again,” said a gold medallist, Oluwatoyin Adesanmi.

Nigeria’s number one female table tennis player, Offiong Edem, said; “I am sure we would have achieved a lot more if we had prepared well for the

games. We usually have foreign training tours before major games like Olympics and Commonwealth Games but this time around there was nothing like that. I believe that the potential is there for us to achieve a lot more if we pay more attention to preparation and welfare of the athletes.”

Special athlete and

gold medal winner in powerlifting, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, said; “I am a gold medal winner today without enough support from our government.

Let them help us, let them give the special athletes attention so that we can do well for our country. We love Nigeria, but we also need the country’s support.”

Another medallist who does not want her name in print

said that government would not have treated footballers as badly as they have done to athletes in other sports. She reasoned that Nigerian footballers who did not win anything at the World Cup were given big bonuses and allowances with each player earning about $20,000 in match bonus alone while athletes who won gold medals were given meagre $7,000.

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Webb retires from refereeing after 25 years H

oward Webb has retired from a refereeing career that included a World Cup final to become Technical Director of the body that selects and governs Premier League match officials.

Webb, 43, ends a 25-year professional career in which he became the first man to officiate showpiece matches of both the Champions League and World Cup in the same year, a feat he achieved in 2010.

The former police officer from Yorkshire, northern England, will take up a newly created position with Professional Game Match Officials Limited to spearhead the training and development of future topflight referees.

“I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career after a wonderfully rewarding 25 years on the pitch,” Webb told the Premier League’s official website. “I have spent over a decade with the best seat in the house for Barclays Premier League matches, been lucky enough to be involved in nine UEFA and FIFA tournaments, and taken charge of the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup finals.

“Refereeing has given me so much and it’s important that match officials who have had the rewards remain in the game to pass on their knowledge. I also have much more to learn about the business of refereeing and the best place for me to do that is with PGMOL. It’s an incredibly positive working environment and we all have a common goal of improving refereeing.

“Over the last five years in particular we have made huge strides in terms of our accuracy, fitness and professionalism. The current Select Group are the best referees this country has ever produced and I am thrilled that I not only get the chance to continue working with them but also the opportunity to help develop the next generation of Select Group officials.”

Webb also refereed at Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, and was widely-praised for his performances at the last World Cup in Brazil.

The Premier League said his new position would include a “public-facing role informing and educating on refereeing matters”.

PGMOL general manager Mike Riley added: “Howard has been the foremost referee of his generation and an inspiration for match officials in this country and around the world.

“We are very excited that Howard’s knowledge and skills are being retained and shared for them and the rest of PGMOL’s officials.

“Last season we trebled the funding for referee coaching and training and we will continue to invest in match officials from the Premier League down to the contributory leagues.

“We want to accelerate the development of referees from the semi-professional game so that we have an even stronger talent pool to pick from at Select Group level. There is no one better to lead on that than Howard Webb.”

Webb(left) and Rooney

Neymar returns to Barca training after back injury Schumacher medical files: Theft arcelona forward Neymar has trained for suspect found hanged in jail the first time since breaking a bone in his B back during Brazil’s World Cup quarterfinal man arrested on suspicion of Tuesday but denied any wrongagainst Colombia.

A leaking Michael Schumacher’s doing. He was found in his Zurich medical files has been found jail cell on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old was ruled out for the rest of the

Neymar

tournament after being kneed by Juan Zuniga on July 4.

“Neymar is back in training with the rest of the first-team squad,” said a statement on Barcelona’s website.

“He will be given a thorough examination by the club’s medical services to evaluate his recovery.”

Barcelona begin their La Liga campaign on 24 August against Elche.

Neymar has previously said he was lucky not to be paralysed by Zuniga’s challenge.

The Colombia player did not face disciplinary action from FIFA as the incident was seen by referee Carlos Velasco Carballo.

hanged in his cell, Swiss police say.

The man, who has not been named, was a manager at Swiss air rescue firm Rega.

Michael Schumacher’s medical records were allegedly stolen and offered for sale to several newspapers.

The ex-F1 champion suffered a head injury in a skiing accident in France last December and was flown by Rega to a Swiss hospital in June.

Prosecutors had been investigating a possible breach of privacy at Rega.

The suspect was arrested on

Schumacher, 45, was transferred on 16 June from a hospital in the French city of Grenoble to Lausanne in Switzerland.

His medical documents were shared with the medical and rescue teams involved in planning his move, including Rega.

Schumacher’s manager, Sabine Kehm, said last month that the F1 ex-champion’s medical files had been “clearly stolen” and were being offered for sale.

The records were apparently being offered to media across Europe for 50,000 euros (£40,000, $68,000).

SPORT 53

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

African Championship: Team Nigeria arrives Morocco

Charles Ogundiya

N

igerian athletes are expected to arrive Morocco today for the 2014 Africa Athletics Championships billed for Marrakesh, Morocco.

The athletes led

by Africa queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare, will depart Glasgow T hursday mor ning (today) via London, while those who did not make the Commonwealth team but made the Africa Championships team, will leave from Lagos

for Morocco also today (Thursday).

According to the team’s Technical Coordinator, Yusuf Alli, the athletes are in high spirits to do the country proud. Alli assured that the athletes would successfully defend the title Nigeria won in Port Novo, Benin Republic in 2012.

“After what happened at the Commonwealth Games, all the countries participating in the African Championships will want to defeat Nigeria, but we are going to defend our title successfully. I am con-

fident that our athletes will dominate the four relays; sprint events, hurdles, jumps and win enough gold medals to be adjudged the best in Africa,” Alli said.

The championship holds between August Nigerian 4 x 100m relays team after 10 and 14 in the North winning silver medal at the Commonwealth African country.

Games with a time of 42.92 seconds.

Brume will be nurtured in America, says Ogba Dapo Sotuminu Glasgow

T

he president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Chief Solomon Ogba, has disclosed that, the excellent athletics talents of Commonwealth Games Long Jump gold medallist, Ese Brume, will be nurtured and further developed

Sammy Ameobi opts to play for Nigeria forward Sammy AmeNewcastle obi has opted to play for Nigeria.

The 22-year-old has represented

England at under-21 level but will follow his older brother Shola’s lead and play for the country of their parents.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision because I decided to follow my heart and I think it’s the right thing to do,” Ameobi told BBC Sport.

“I saw Shola at the World Cup and for him to play at a major tournament like that is a big motivation.”

Kalu and Ikechukwu Uche were the last brothers to play for the west African country, and the younger Ameobi hopes he and his sibling - who was released by Newcastle this summer - can play in the same national side.

“It would be nice, but I need to

work extremely hard at club level to get the attention of the Nigerian coaches,” he said.

“The country has a lot of talent. I just want to do well and hopefully get a chance with the Super Eagles.”

Sammy Ameobi made his debut for Newcastle in May 2011, but was loaned to Middlesbrough for the second half of the 2012-13 season.

He was back at St James’ Park last term but made only 12 appearances and acknowledges he is about to begin an “important” campaign.

“Performing well on a regular basis with your club is the only way to prove yourself,” he said.

“When you give everything and do well then you’ll fancy your chance to get a call up to the Nigeria squad.”

Rwanda ready for Eagles, says coach Emmanuel Tobi ead Coach of the Rwanda Hstantine, national team, Stephen Conis looking forward

to his side’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Super Eagles, insisting the Amavubi won’t be perturbed about the prospects of coming up against the reigning African champions.

Rwanda secured a spot in the group stages of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers following last Saturday’s penalty shootouts victory over Congo Brazzaville at the Kigali Regional Stadium. They will, aside

from playing the Super Eagles home and away, take on South Africa and Sudan in the hope of grabbing a ticket to the AFCON, a tournament they last appeared in 2004.

Speaking after the win in Kigali, Constantine, who has only been with Rwanda’s national side for two months said: “Facing the African champions will be great, but we shall prepare well for them and all the other teams we shall face in the group.”

Constantine, who replaced Eric Nshimiyimana in May on a two-year contract, had previously managed Malawi and Sudan.

I’m ready for action, Dike declares

N

igeria international Bright Dike has said he is ready to return to the pitch after a long-term Achilles tendon injury.

Dike tore his Achilles tendon back in February and has been out of action in the entire 2014 season.

“Whenever the coach is ready for me,” Dike said, when asked how long he had before returning to the pitch.

“Right now, honestly, I feel good to go so whenever they give me the go-ahead, I’m ready.”

On his return to full fitness and

training, Dike said: “It feels great.

I’ve been waiting so long.

“I was so anxious to get back on the pitch. It feels like Christmas for me.”

The Nigeria international said he was most grateful to the Toronto FC staff in his comeback bid.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been through it before,” Dike said, when asked about his injury troubles in the past.

“That just makes me know exactly what I have to do beforehand.

This time, I’m going to be that much more mobile coming back.”

Glo League: Sharks bounce back against Bayelsa Charles Ogundiya FC of Por tSdayharks Harcourt on Wednesbounced back from

t h e i r re c e n t d i s ap pointing runs with a victory against Bayelsa United in one of the week 21 Nigeria Professional Football League matches.

A goal in each half gave the Blue Angels, cur rently on a fourmatch winless run, a 2-0 victory over Bayelsa inside the Sharks Stadium to move back to the top three on the league table.

Abraham Okereke atones for his earlier miss in the game as he headed home Yinka Adedeji’s free-kick in the 36th minute before Salawu Ibrahim came off the bench to make it two in the 59th minute of the game.

Nembe got a little reprieve in their battle against relegation with a 2-1 victory over Rangers while Lobi Stars recorded the only away win of the mid-week in Ibadan, defeating Crown 1-0 from Moses Bunde 53 minute penalty.

in the United States.

Brume who put smiles on the faces of Nigerians after Blessing Okagbare announced her withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games’ Long Jump event when, it clashed with the 200 metres, is a student of the University of Benin.

“She is also a very good sprinter, not many people know that, but I do, and I know her potential in this. She has what it takes to win international laurels for Nigeria in both the long jump and sprints events.

“That is why we have organised a carefully selected training camp for Brume to explode.

“She has some similarities with Okagbare in terms of achievements. Just as Blessing won her first Olympic bronze medal at Beijing 2008 barely two years after her first appearance at the National Sports Festival Gateway Games 2006,

the same applied to Brume.

“Eko 2012 National Sports Festival was her maiden appearance in the festival and she won gold in the long jump event, and today just barely two years after that, she did the country proud winning a Commonwealth Games 2014 gold medal. If you look at it properly, she seems to have a better start than Okagbare.”

The Athletics Federation boss said that, Brume has been scheduled to travel to the United States immediately after the African Athletics Championship in Morocco.

“Our expectation is that she wins the gold in Morocco, and she has promised to do so,” Ogba stated.

The Nigeria Athletics team would depart for Morocco today from Glasgow, Scotland where they had stayed back to continue training for the African Championship.

Nneka Ogwumike grabs career high 35 points

lAs sister, Chiney, undergoes surgery Ifeanyi Ibeh neka Ogwumike, on Tuesday N(Wednesday night in Los Angeles, USA morning Nigerian time), scored a career-high 35 points in a WNBA game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Tulsa Shock.

But Ogwumike’s efforts were not enough to prevent the Sparks from losing 96-90 to the visitors on the same night her younger sister, Chiney, underwent dental surgery and missed Connecticut Sun’s 8266 loss to the visiting Chicago Sky. After the game, Ogwumike, who scored 24 points in the first half, said: “I was just shooting, really.

“My teammates found me, and I’ve been working on my shot a lot more now, and I’m a little bit more comfortable especially with the confidence that my teammates give me.”

Her previous career-high was the 30 points she scored on September 13, 2012, in an 86-77 win over the Chicago Sky. And on Wednesday, she surpassed her previous high point game when she completed a three-point play and converted an alley-oop pass from Candace Parker, who had 28 points and nine assists.

The Sparks trailed for most of the third quarter but scored the final six points, on four Parker free throws and a Lindsey Harding jumper, to take a 68-66 lead.

NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE El-Kanemi 2-0 Warri Wolves Enyimba 2-0 Sunshine Stars Gombe Utd 2-0 Akwa United Sharks 2-0 Bayelsa United Crown 0-1 Lobi Stars Nembe City 2-1 Rangers Kaduna 3-2 Abia Warriors Pillars 3-1 Giwa FC Dolphins 1-0 Heartland

Nneka Ogwumike

Transfer Updates

54 SPORT Ibrahimovic wants Juventus return

Moses may still leave Chelsea

junior coach of Zlatan Astarformer Ibrahimovic says the PSG superwants to return to Juventus.

may still leave Chelsea as the VtheictorclubNigeriaisMoses believed to be keen on disposing of international.

Stefan Hansson coached Ibrahimovic when the super Swede was a youngster with Malmo.

He told Tuttosport: “I spoke with Zlatan few days ago, he told me his plans for the future.

“Zlatan wants Juve.

“If not now, next year. He told me the other day. He said that it won’t be a question of money, he wants to choose according to his taste.”

Hansson added, “He told me ‘I know it’s not easy to put on the black and white jersey. If I do not succeed now, then I’ll do it in 2015’.”

While doubts over John Mikel Obi’s future have beencleared,thesamecannotbesaidofhiscomMoses, whose future at Stamford Bridge still hangs in

patriot, the balance.

The London Evening Standard claims that Chelsea are keen to sell the Nigeria international winger, but are struggling to find suitors for the 23-year-old who had a disappointing loan spell at Liverpool last season.

Only West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa have reportedly shown strong interest in the player.

Arsenal ready to bid for Liverpool’s Agger

Leeds complete Ajose capture

rsenal are ready to bid for Liverpool ABrendan centre-back Daniel Agger with Rodgers prepared to let the

United have completed the signing Lougheeds of Olushola ‘Nicky’ Ajose from PeterborUnited for an undisclosed fee.

Dane leave, according to reports.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is preparing to bid for the 29-year-old as he seeks to fight off interest from Barcelona and the player’s former club Brondby.

Wenger sees the player as a good replacement for Manchester United and Barcelona target Thomas Vermaelen, reports the Sun. Agger looks set to struggle for opportunities after the arrival of £20m Croatia centre back Dejan Lovren from Southampton.

The 22-year-old former Manchester United prospect has moved to the Championship high-flyers at Elland Road after a successful season in which he scored 17 goals in all competitions.

After struggling for playing time with Peterborough, Ajose successfully spent the first half of last season on loan at Swindon Town for whom he scored 10 goals in 21 games, before returning to help Peterborough reach the League One promotion play-offs.

Ajose becomes the Whites’ seventh summer signing and second this week - following the capture of Slovenian youngster Zan Bededicic from AC Milan.

Atletico demand Schurrle for Miranda

Madrid have offered Joao Adretletico Miranda to Chelsea for AnSchurrle. The Daily Express

says the Blues bid £20million for Miranda last week as Jose Mourinho stepped up his search for defensive reinforcements.

Atletico responded by telling Chelsea they would have to part with Schurrle in exchange for the 29-year-old.

Miranda has since insisted he wants to stay with the La Liga champions, with Mourinho turning his attention to Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane.

But Atletico remain keen on signing Schurrle and are ready to make a £25m bid for the German international.

Reds swoop for Manquillo iverpool have announced the signLManquillo ing of Spanish full-back Javier on a loan deal from

Atletico Madrid.

The 20-year-old right-back has been with current Primera Division champions Atletico since 2007 and has represented his country at various youth levels.

He told liverpoolfc.com: “I’m very happy to have signed for a club like Liverpool.

“I think it’s one of the biggest in Europe. Any footballer would want to come and play here.”

It is understood that the loan is for two years, and Manquillo hopes he can be a Liverpool player for the long-term.

Ibisevic extends Stuttgart deal

Ibisevic has penned a Vwithedad one-year contract extension Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart.

The 30-year-old, who featured for Bosnia-Herzegovina at the World Cup, still had two years left on his existing deal, but has now agreed to stay with the club until June 2017.

Ibisevic’s new contract appears to have curtailed West Ham’s hopes of signing the forward.

Sam Allardyce had been linked with a £7million deal for the former Hoffenheim man before he committed to staying at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Valencia confident over Mustafi

alencia are said to be confident SampVchoose doria defender Shkodran Mustafi will them over his many suitors.

AS reports the Germany international as catching the eye of Juventus and Milan but Los Che feel they will land the €8m signing.

A report from Gazzetta dello Sport is cited by AS with the claim that the fee will be paid in two instalments.

The World Cup winner is said to be keen on playing in Spain and under new Coach Nuno Santo, who has given his blessing to the signing.

Mustafi would form a new first-choice centre-back pairing at Mestalla, alongside Nico Otamendi.

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Man City challenge Madrid for Falcao

M

anchester City are threatening Real Madrid’s hopes for AS Monaco striker Radamel Falcao.

Gazzetta dello Sport says should the Colombian striker join City, then Stevan Jovetic will be off

to Juventus.

City, like Real, will only take Falcao on loan to ensure they fall in line with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules.

Monaco spent £60million bringing Falcao to the principality from At-

letico Madrid last summer and would want at least that for a permanent transfer.

Jovetic also switched clubs last summer as he left Fiorentina for City but his debut season was hampered by injuries.

Barcelona: No ‘bite clause’ in Suarez’s contract B

arcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu claims there is no clause in Luis Suarez’s contract which forbids him from biting players “We didn’t rethink our decision and we told Luis that after the bite.

He knows that he did wrong,” Bartomeu told CNN. “He apologised. That’s very important for us. That means he

knows that he did not do things properly.

“There’s going to be a way of managing Luis Suarez, because at Liverpool he was a perfect player.

Liverpool fans can tell it, our supporters can tell it. “’What if he bit someone again?’ is a question that a lot of people ask us. We cannot talk about something that could not happen.”

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, August 7, 2014

55

EbolaoutbreakstopsCCSFTaekwondoTournament EmmanuelTobi he outbreak of Ebola disease across the West AfTannual rica sub-region has forced the organisers of the Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation

(CCSF) International Taekwondo Tournament to postpone the third edition of the championship.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/ Founder of CCSF, Chika Chukwumerije, the tournament has been postponed until further notice.

“In recent weeks, a new challenge in the form of the Ebola epidemic in the West Africa sub-region has struck a fearful chord across the nation, as attempts have been stepped up by the relevant authorities to confront this novel danger on Nigeria’s shores,” Chukwumerije said.

The three-time Olympian added: “The 2013 CCSF tournament had 320 athletes in attendance from 8 countries, 24 Nigerian Sates, 6 Universities, 7 Clubs, the Nigeria Police, Armed Forces and Paramilitaries. In addition, there was an overall influx of 1,200 persons for the 2-day event. The 2014 edi-

Senegalese referees for Flying Eagles, Lesotho match Confederation of African Football has Tereehe appointed Senegalese Daouda Kebe as Reffor next weekend’s 2015 African Youth

Championship qualifying match between the Flying Eagles of Nigeria and Junior Crocodiles of Lesotho.

Kebe, 28, and who became an international referee only last year, will be assisted by compatriots Nouha Bangoura (1st Assistant), El Hadji Abdoul Aziz Gueye (2nd Assistant) and Daouda Gueye (4th Official), at the match that the Nigeria Football Federation has already confirmed for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Saturday, 16th August.

CAF has also appointed well –known Beninoise football administrator, Bruno Arthur Didavi as the Match Commissioner.

Next weekend’s game is the opening leg of a final round qualifying fixture, with the return leg set for the National Stadium, Maseru on the last day of August.

The last round of qualifying will see fourteen teams up in arms for seven spots, to join hosts Senegal at the finals to be played from 8th – 22nd March, 2015.

Unified Soccer Initiative: SONigeria commends Coca-Cola he board of directors of Special Olympics Tadopting Nigeria has lauded Coca-Cola Nigeria for the Unified Soccer Initiative that brings together an equal number of athletes with intellectual disabilities and other players to train and play as a team.

Mr Victor Gbolade Osibodu, Chairman, Special Olympics Nigeria Board of Directors, who was represented by the Board’s Communications and Publicity Committee Chairman, Mr Udeme Ufot, gave this commendation at a press briefing to announce the 2014 Special Olympics Nigeria National Games slated to hold at the University of Lagos Sports Complex, Akoka from August 10 – 13, 2014.

“Coca-Cola’s adoption of the Unified Soccer Initiative resonates with the 2014 National Games theme ’Together We Can‘, which aims to provide another level of challenge for higher ability athletes and promote equality and inclusion through the medium of sports”, said Mr Osibodu.

Speaking at the event, Clem Ugorji, Public Affairs & Communications Manager for CocaCola Nigeria said. “Special Olympic athletes are an inspiring example of the resilience of the human spirit and its capacity to scale the highest hurdles and accomplish its resolve; it is gratifying for us at Coca-Cola to be a part of this great movement that is making a difference in our communities”, he said.

The 2014 Special Olympics Nigeria National Games will prepare 42 athletes to represent Nigeria at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games which is slated to hold in Los Angeles, California in July.

tion is expected to be even bigger, with 11 countries (9 from West Africa) expected to be in attendance, and a total audience of 1,500 for the 2-day event (including 200 school children from 10 schools in FCT Abuja).

Chukwumerijie added that, “The best case scenario of tackling the viral spread is projected by some experts to be in the range of 3 – 6 months, during which the CCSF Opens is scheduled to take place. In light of the slim chance of providing an ideal environment for a highly unlikely scenario of an Ebola viral spread, organisers of the CCSF Opens have decided to err on the side of caution and postpone Nigeria’s best Taekwondo tournament till further notice. We would carefully watch the turn of events over the coming weeks and months before Nigeria’s Osaze Odemwingie announcing a new dates.” dribbling an Argentina players

Rwanda match: NFF plan interim coach for Eagles lContinues negotiations with Keshi Ifeanyi Ibeh

B

arring any last minute developments, the Super Eagles look set to prosecute their opening game of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Rwanda under the guidance of a new coach, albeit an interim one.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to host Rwanda’s Amavubi on the weekend of September 5 to 7, but with contract negotiations with Stephen Keshi, who led the side to the last World Cup in Brazil, still on-going, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has set their sights on appointing an acting coach to take charge of affairs against the East African side.

According to sources, the NFF is looking at a shortlist of coaches which includes some veteran coaches as well as

members of the football body’s technical department, currently headed by Shaibu Amodu.

Amodu is a four-time former handler of the Super Eagles, managing the team as recently as 2010.

Former coach of the Gambian national team, Kashimawo Laloko, is also under consideration, as well as Daniel Amokachi, who was one of Keshi’s coaching assistants.

Even NFF executive committee member, Deji Tinubu, in a radio programme monitored in Abuja, admitted the existence of a ‘plan B’ in the event that an agreement is not reached with Keshi before the encounter against the Rwandans.

Tinubu said: “We have a plan B, if negotiations with Keshi are not completed

Almeria may block Azeez’s EPL switch

Azeez

Ifeanyi Ibeh

R

amon Azeez’s dream of plying his trade in the English Premier League may not come to fruition this season as there are strong indications that his current employers, Almeria, may prevent the midfielder from joining Swansea City.

The Welsh-based Premier League side has long admired the Nigeria international, and recently tabled a bid for the 21-year-old.

But reports in Spain suggest that the Spanish La Liga outfit is not too keen on letting go of the midfielder, who was part of Nigeria’s squad to the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Another news portal, AfricanFootball.com, even quotes a source close to the former Nigeria U-20 team skipper as saying that the President of the modest Spanish club, Alfonso Garcia, ‘does not wish to sell’ the midfielder.

Garcia has been Almeria’s President since 2003 and during his time the club returned to the Spanish elite division at the end of the 2006/07 season and came close to securing a ticket to the Europa League the following season.

Almeria, who barely escaped relegation last season, are currently in Thailand as part of their preparations ahead of the new La Liga season, but are due back in Spain at the weekend.

Azeez, who joined Almeria in 2011, broke into the Almeria first team last season, making 32 appearances and scoring two goals.

before the qualifiers. There is a plan in place to take care of that, and if it does happen that we didn’t conclude negotiations with him, then we’ll put the other plan in motion.”

Tinubu also confirmed that they have sent a draft of the new contract terms to Keshi, who’s in the USA, for consideration and to either send a counter-draft or agreement, but posited that they expect a counterdraft with Keshi’s own demands.

“We received a letter of acceptance from him on Monday, after we sent him a letter of intent last week. So now we have sent him a draft of the contract terms from our view, and we expect him to send either a counterdraft or an agreement notice.

“But the truth is, at this stage of negotiations, we are expecting a counter-draft as he’s expected to give us his terms before we finally come to an agreement,” he said.

NRFF fixes Oct 10 for Independence Sevens Rugby Emmanuel Tobi he Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Tyear’s has fixed October 11th and 12th for this Independence Sevens Rugby tour-

nament billed for the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

NRFF vice President who also doubles as the Technical Director of the federation, Tunji Fasimoye, added that more innovations will be witnessed this year as a result of improvement on last year’s tournament won by Police Rugby Football Club of Lagos.

“We are hosting the Independence Sevens which we held last year and it is an international invitational tournament.

“Last year, we had 4 teams from abroad in attendance for the tournament, but this year we are looking at expanding to it between five and six teams.”

Fasimonye opined that the annual tournament which started in 2009 is aimed at exposing club and national team players to the current global trends in the sport.

“We hope that it will also give our indigenous players the opportunity to actually know more and learn more from the game” “The Sevens tournament is a good platform for us to actually push and promote the sport here in Nigeria,” he said.

World Record

On Marble

The mind is everything.

What you think you become.

Sanctity of Truth

– Buddha

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

Feb 14, 2012 - Keith Martin, believed to be the world’s fattest man, the bed-bound 42-year-old cannot even roll over on his own, has been unable to work for more than a decade.

N150

Lessons from the United States T TALKING TOUGH GABRIEL AKINADEWO he greatest reason for anybody to really lovehiscountryisknowingthat:‘Nomatterwhat,mycountrywillbethereforme’.

Each time I think about the swift and effective way, last Saturday and Tuesday, the United States (U.S.) handled the cases of the two medical personnel who got infected with the Ebola virus in Liberia, I wonder why we have a system in which it seems individuals in this country are left to their fate.

Which country today is run like Nigeria in all truth and honesty? How will Nigerians be patrioticwhentheircountryseemstohaveno plan for their well being?

That Nigerians are living in a country which has consistently proved that it is not able to provide them basic social services, nationalinfrastructureandhumanrightsisbad enough. What do you say to the reality that security, which other existential elements of humanbeingsrests,hasalsobeenabandoned bythegovernment,leavinghaplessNigerians to protect themselves?

Why would Nigerians blame miscreants who have continued to hold them hostage when those mandated to protect them, with 20 per cent of annual budget spent on national security, are indirectly allowing the hoodlums to go on the rampage?

On April 8, 2009, there was an incident 240 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia which attracted world attention.

Four pirates seized a cargo ship, MV Maersk Alabama. The siege ended after a rescue effort by the United States (U.S.) Navy on April 12, 2009.

The ship, with a crew of 20, loaded with 17,000 metric tonnes of cargo, was bound for Mombasa, Kenya, after a stop in Djibouti when the four pirates attacked it.

Why the incident was interesting was that it was the first pirate seizure of a ship registered under the American flag since the early 19th century and President Barack Obama, who just succeeded George Bush (jnr) on January 20, 2009, was determined that such an incident would not be recorded negatively in his administration.

Weeks before the MV Alabama incident, five ships, belonging to other countries, had been seized by pirates who extorted millions of dollars before the ships and 54 occupants, citizens of China, Germany, Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan were released. Pitiably, in the case of MV Alabama, the pirates picked the wrong ship.

The pirates captured Captain Richard

gabyfola@hotmail.com - 08023010222 (sms only)

Phillips and several other crew members minutes after boarding and took the captain away in a life boat.

Obama didn’t care to know whether Phillips voted for him or not on November 4, 2008 or whether he was a Democrat or Republican. Immediately, he ordered that the destroyer, USS Bainbridge and the frigate, USS Halyburton (FFG-40), be dispatched to the Gulf of Aden in response to the hostage situation and to rescue Phillips.

The Bainbridge was equipped with a ScanEagle drone and Rigid-hulled inflatable boats. The Halyburton held two SH-60B helicopters on board. A P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft secured aerial footage and reconnaissance.

On April 10, Phillips attempted to escape

Up Fellow, we go wash am

W

hatever you do, good or evil, people are watching. Since advocacy is one of the key ingredients of my chosen profession, I try my best to ensure that good governance is strictly followed by leaders. This theme runs through my weekly columns and editorial direction of my newspaper.

Honestly, I didn’t expect what happened a few weeks ago when I got a letter from the Institute of Policy Management Development (IPMD), Abuja, a body mandated to entrench the bureaucratic culture of policy management among policy formulators and executors, of my induction as a Fellow.

The letter, signed by the Executive Vice-President, Engineer Emmanuel Alicho, and Executive Director, Admin

and Human Resources, Engineer Emeka Nwokolo, reads, inter alia: “After painstaking deliberations premised on your sterling leadership qualities, meritorious achievements in your chosen career and your immense contributions to humanity and national development, the Governing Council and Management of the Institute have unanimously nominated you for induction as Fellow, Institute of Policy Management Development (FIPMD)”.

The event held last Friday. So, as you are reading this piece, yours truly is a Fellow. One of my friends, who read the story, called: “Up Fellow, we go wash am o. How much is involved?”

My sincere thanks to the Governing Council and Management of IPMD.

from the lifeboat, but was recaptured after the captors fired shots. By then, the U.S. had dispatched another warship, amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, to the site.

On April 12, 2009, the commanding officer of the Bainbridge, Commander Frank Castellano, with prior authorisation from higher authority, ordered U.S. Navy SEAL marksmen to open fire after determining Phillips’ life was in immediate danger, citing reports that a pirate was pointing an AK-47 rifle at Phillips’ back. The marksmen, from ‘SEAL Team Six’, opened fire simultaneously with Mark 11 Mod 0 (SR-25) sniper rifles from Bainbridge’s fantail, killing the three pirates with bullets to the head. Phillips was rescued uninjured.

The fourth pirate, Abduwali Muse, aboard the Bainbridge and negotiating for Phillips’ release while being treated for an injury sustained in the takeover of Maersk Alabama, was immediately flown to the U.S. for trial and jailed 33 years, nine months.

Can you imagine the amount of resources committed by the American Government to the rescue of somebody who did not work for the government, just because he is an American?

The same swift reaction of the American system to the rescue of any American in immediatedangerhappenedSaturdaylastweek, days after Ebola started killing people in West Africa.

AmericanEbolapatientinLiberia,Dr.Kent Brantly, was immediately flown to Emory University Hospital in the U.S. His is the first known case of Ebola to be treated in the U.S. and the American system never treated the case lightly.

The 33-year-old Brantly was flown on a specialcharteredjetequippedwithacontainment area for patients with infectious diseases and landedatDobbinsAirReservebaseinAtlanta,

Georgia.

Hewasthenputinawhiteambulancewith red and blue markings, along with a police escort, and taken to the hospital, about 14 miles away.

The way the takeoff of the plane from Liberia and the landing in U.S. was televised live shows the importance the American system attaches to the safety of any American anywhere in the world.

EventheDobbinsAirReservebasespokesman, Lt. Col. James Wilson, said: “We are pleased about that.”

Another infected patient and 59-year-old charity worker, Nancy Writebol, was also airlifted to the U.S. last Tuesday.

Writebol and Brantly served on a joint team in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, run byChristianaidgroups,SIMUSAandSamaritan’s Purse but they were quickly flown to the U.S. with the assistance of the American government. This was done separately because the plane equipped to transport them could carry only one patient at a time.

The duo do not work for the government but security facilities were quickly deployed to help in getting them to better medical facilities in the U.S. Giventhehawkishnatureof theAmerican foreignpolicywithinterventioninmanycountries, you can accuse the Americans of killing outsiders but you can’t accuse them of killing themselves a la Nigeria. Even if Americans will kill outsiders, they know how to protect their own.

To them, danger to one is danger to all.

Within Nigeria, Nigerians are killing Nigerians and the killers are celebrated. Outside Nigeria, Nigerians are being persecuted and killed and our government is helpless.

There are many instances in which Nigerians are under attack by hoodlums and when they call security agents, there will be no response.

America will never abandon its own, even underthemostdangerousconditions.Acountry must care for its own. When are we going to evolve a system in which Nigerians will be proud to boast: ‘No matter what, my country will come to my rescue?’

Long live Nigeria.

OMOBABA

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